Student-athletes from CMS volunteering weekly at Mountain View Elementary

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athletics Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Mountain View Elementary School in Claremont have formed a partnership for the 2015-16 school year that will see athletes and coaches from 2-3 CMS teams per month volunteer an hour each Friday afternoon with students from the elementary school.

Student-athletes from the CMS cross country and lacrosse teams got the program started on Oct. 2. and between now and the end of May, each of the CMS’ 21 teams are expected to participate in the program.

“The CMS athletes are amazing role models for our young students. Friday afternoon doesn’t come quick enough,” said Beth Coronado who is a fourth grade teacher and is CMS’ primary contact with Mountain View. “The hour the children spend with the athletes is some of the best time these children have throughout the whole week. They go home talking about their coaches. The impact and influence that the athletes have on our students is not something we can measure.”

The CMS athletes spend from 1:15-2:15 p.m. volunteering each Friday and they work with students in Mountain View’s primary physical education program.

CMS athletes are teaching the students the importance of physical activity by running rotations that during October include, teaching students how to balance, hula-hoop, jump, catch, throw, hopscotch, and much more.

“The most satisfying aspect of this program that the teachers are observing is the joy the students get from participating. Fridays are days that are very much anticipated by our students,” Coronado said.

CMS student-athletes are invited to participate even if isn’t their team’s month to volunteer. While many teams are opting to volunteer while they are out of season, the CMS softball team is doing its volunteer work at Mountain View in-season. The Athenas are going to work specifically with 70-75 third through sixth grade girls over the course of eight dates on Mondays from mid-January until April 25.

by Chris Watts
Director of Athletics Communication
Claremont McKenna College

Sign up for CMS Email Updates
Become a fan of CMS Athletics on Facebook: AthleticsCMS
Follow CMS Athletics on Twitter: @AthleticsCMS
CMS Athletics on Instagram: cmsathletics
Watch CMS Athletics videos on YouTube: ClaremontMuddScripps
#gostags
#goathenas