Aug. 27, 2009
Watch Video of Youth Visiting Northwestern!
EVANSTON, Ill. -- This summer over 750 children from around the Chicagoland area had the unique opportunity to receive special behind-the-scenes access of the athletic facilities at Northwestern. Groups as small as 10 and as large as 600 were invited to campus not only see the facilities, but to live out their fantasy of being Wildcat student-athletes.
Guests had the chance to shoot hoops on the main court in Welsh-Ryan Arena, run out of the tunnel onto the football field at Ryan Field, test their 40-yard dash time in the indoor practice facility, learn how to take down an opponent in the wrestling room and even receive an address on the importance of academics in the Ron Burton Academic Services Center. Other areas that were open to the visitors included locker rooms, film rooms, the weight room, athletic training facilities, equipment room, the press box at Ryan Field, Rocky Miller Park and Sharon J. Drysdale Field.
"Many children in our community have never been on campus or know what college life is like, so we cherish the opportunity to educate and inspire them to dream big by visiting our facilities," said Northwestern Assistant Athletic Director and Director of Student Development Betsi Burns. "It is an amazing experience for our students, coaches and staff to have groups visit our home and learn about the doors that can be opened by participating in athletics, being healthy and getting an education."
One group of around 200 middle school football players from the Chicago Public School system also had the opportunity to sit on the sideline to watch part of a pre-season football practice. At the conclusion of practice, head coach Pat Fitzgerald addressed the youth players and opened the field for autographs with the team.
"What a great afternoon [Northwestern] put on for our student-athletes," said AUSL Athletic Director John Byrne. "From the reception we received upon arrival to their final minutes with the players the young people where both enthralled and overwhelmed. Be assured that [this opportunity] had a huge impact on our boys and girls."
This past year Northwestern student-athletes logged over 5,300 hours of community service. A total of 66 organizations in the Evanston and greater Chicago area benefited from the community outreach efforts of all 19 varsity sports programs of Northwestern Athletics.
"Unlike many institutions across the country, Northwestern athletics does not have a community service requirement for our athletes," Burns said. "We want and encourage our teams and student-athletes to volunteer because it is what they want to do -- not to check off a box for a requirement. The athletes have been blessed with so many gifts and talents that it is our duty to give back and pay it forward to our community: Northwestern, Evanston and the greater Chicagoland area."
For more information on the community service efforts of Northwestern Athletics, click here.