SE: K-State Student-Athletes Find Holiday Spirit Through Adopt-A-Family Program
Dec 25, 2018 | Sports Extra, Athletics, Evans Student-Athlete Success Program
By Corbin McGuire
Tejaswin Shankar, K-State's sophomore high jumper from India, had never seen so many presents in his life — except for in the movies. Lately, he's watched a lot of these movies — these being Christmas flicks on Netflix — and each centered around finding a certain holiday spirit.
But the 6-foot-4 Wildcat had never actually felt it until he took part in K-State SAAC's annual Adopt-A-Family program this year.
He was there when K-State's student-athletes gathered to wrap presents for the Manhattan family — a mother and four children, ages 2 to 9 — they were paired with through a partnership with Junior League of the Flint Hills. He was also on hand to help deliver the presents, which filled a void below the family's Christmas tree and then some.
"It looked just like the movies when there's a tree and a lot of presents. I've never seen that many presents in my life together," he said. "It feels really good to make someone's Christmas. I feel like that was a really heartening moment. The Christmas spirit, what they talk about in movies, I could actually feel the warmth."
Before buying, wrapping and delivering the presents, K-State's student-athletes collectively donated the nearly $900 they spent on their adopted family out of their own pockets. This went toward purchasing 20-plus gifts that included gloves, socks, bedding, books, dinosaur toys, a race car, a K-State football, books and many other items.
"Every team, we rally together, and we collect money so that way we can give back to the community," K-State senior rower Kennedy Felice said. "I think this (program) for me, personally, is easy to get behind because this is my favorite time of year. I love the fact that we can help someone else. I feel like if you can give back, you should, and so this is a really cool opportunity for us to rally together, be able to support other people and help someone else kind of feel appreciated and make the holiday season something really meaningful for them as well."
During a time when preparing for finals, finishing projects and papers can seem overwhelming, Felice added that K-State's Adopt-A-Family program, which was started in 2010, can reset student-athletes' perspectives in a good way.
"It's just a cool opportunity to get involved with Manhattan again," she said. "As an athlete, we're really focused on everything we're doing — practice and school — and it makes you kind of take a step back, realize there are other things going on in the world. It helps you really appreciate what you have, but also know you can make a difference for somebody as well."
K-State baseball's Gavin Hinchliffe agreed.
"It's not often we get to give back to the community that gives a lot to us," he said. "Obviously it's really important."
While it's a relatively small return to the community, Shankar said it's important for student-athletes to show their appreciation for the support they receive whenever they can.
"I think that's number one, because all we do here at K-State, it's mostly because of the support of the people," he said. "Football games are packed. Basketball games are packed. When I won a national championship, I got so much love. I feel like it's our responsibility, if not anything else, to give back to the community. I don't think of it as giving back. I just feel like we did what we were supposed to do. It's not even expected, but it's our responsibility to do it.
"I think we should continue to do this. I love this Christmas tradition."
Tejaswin Shankar, K-State's sophomore high jumper from India, had never seen so many presents in his life — except for in the movies. Lately, he's watched a lot of these movies — these being Christmas flicks on Netflix — and each centered around finding a certain holiday spirit.
But the 6-foot-4 Wildcat had never actually felt it until he took part in K-State SAAC's annual Adopt-A-Family program this year.
He was there when K-State's student-athletes gathered to wrap presents for the Manhattan family — a mother and four children, ages 2 to 9 — they were paired with through a partnership with Junior League of the Flint Hills. He was also on hand to help deliver the presents, which filled a void below the family's Christmas tree and then some.
"It looked just like the movies when there's a tree and a lot of presents. I've never seen that many presents in my life together," he said. "It feels really good to make someone's Christmas. I feel like that was a really heartening moment. The Christmas spirit, what they talk about in movies, I could actually feel the warmth."
Before buying, wrapping and delivering the presents, K-State's student-athletes collectively donated the nearly $900 they spent on their adopted family out of their own pockets. This went toward purchasing 20-plus gifts that included gloves, socks, bedding, books, dinosaur toys, a race car, a K-State football, books and many other items.
"Every team, we rally together, and we collect money so that way we can give back to the community," K-State senior rower Kennedy Felice said. "I think this (program) for me, personally, is easy to get behind because this is my favorite time of year. I love the fact that we can help someone else. I feel like if you can give back, you should, and so this is a really cool opportunity for us to rally together, be able to support other people and help someone else kind of feel appreciated and make the holiday season something really meaningful for them as well."
During a time when preparing for finals, finishing projects and papers can seem overwhelming, Felice added that K-State's Adopt-A-Family program, which was started in 2010, can reset student-athletes' perspectives in a good way.
"It's just a cool opportunity to get involved with Manhattan again," she said. "As an athlete, we're really focused on everything we're doing — practice and school — and it makes you kind of take a step back, realize there are other things going on in the world. It helps you really appreciate what you have, but also know you can make a difference for somebody as well."
K-State baseball's Gavin Hinchliffe agreed.
"It's not often we get to give back to the community that gives a lot to us," he said. "Obviously it's really important."
While it's a relatively small return to the community, Shankar said it's important for student-athletes to show their appreciation for the support they receive whenever they can.
"I think that's number one, because all we do here at K-State, it's mostly because of the support of the people," he said. "Football games are packed. Basketball games are packed. When I won a national championship, I got so much love. I feel like it's our responsibility, if not anything else, to give back to the community. I don't think of it as giving back. I just feel like we did what we were supposed to do. It's not even expected, but it's our responsibility to do it.
"I think we should continue to do this. I love this Christmas tradition."
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