SE: Cats In the Classroom One Way to Return Community Support

Jaclyn Means, a senior-to-be for the K-State women’s soccer team, wasn’t even aware her session at Northview Elementary School was up. She was enjoying being in Mrs. Kelly Carmody’s sixth grade class too much to keep track of the time.

When Means did leave, she did so with a reaffirmed appreciation for the K-State Athletics’ Cats in the Classroom program, which sent 109 student-athletes to elementary schools around Manhattan for two weeks in November in an effort to give back to the community.

“I think it’s super important. It was so much fun; I didn’t want to leave,” Means said. “To get away from the routine of practice, weights, homework and to come give back, honestly it filled me up more than I felt like I was giving to them.”

Many other Wildcat student-athletes agreed that the opportunity to interact with children in their classrooms is beneficial for both sets of students.

“I think it’s really important to really take a break from athletics and really see ways you can give back to the community,” K-State redshirt freshman rower Rachel Haskell said, “because a lot of these kids see a lot of these athletes on TV and know their names, so I think it’s really cool for them to come an elementary school. They see these people they may look up to or that they want a chance to get to know better. I think it’s a really fun experience for both sides.”

While Haskell said she remembers older athletes coming to her elementary schools growing up, K-State men’s basketball freshman Xavier Sneed said the experience was completely new to him.

“I never had something like this in my community,” he said. “It’s great to come back and see how kids look at older people and see that they actually care and want to do things like this.”

Jordan Matthews, who finished her track and field career in the spring but still participated in this fall’s Cats in the Classroom, said the program is also about stressing the importance of education.

“I hope to promote that education is still alive and well. Even though we’re athletes, we still have to get our education and it’s still important to learn,” she said. “We always say that, ‘The student comes first before we’re an athlete.’”

Whether it was helping out with multiplication tables, like K-State senior baseball player Colton Kalmus did, joining in on the fun of P.E., like Haskell and Brooke Pemberton did, or simply conversing with the students about their studies, Cats in the Classroom is one way for K-State student-athletes to return the support from the community.

“It’s really important to get out into the community to show that we’re thankful that they support our athletics and everything we do,” said Pemberton, a freshman rower.

“It’s a way for us to show that we care just as much about the community as our fans and supporters care about us here in Manhattan,” added K-State women’s soccer goalkeeper Miranda Larkin. “It’s fun to interact with them and maybe be a role model for them to look up to, but really just give them encouragement in school and their classes.”

Kalmus agreed in regards to the program, which follows K-State Athletics’ second goal, to provide value to the University, Community and State.

“It’s an awesome experience just to come out and support the community,” Kalmus said. “The community is a big part of who K-State is.”

Kansas State University Athletics

SE: Cats In the Classroom One Way to Return Community Support

Related Videos