SE: K-State Athletics, Big Brothers Big Sisters Return to Business of Lifelong Friendships
Jul 03, 2020 | Football, Soccer, Sports Extra
By: Austin Siegel
When she met Taylor Gardner for the first time, Alayna challenged her to a race. Like, immediately.
"I was a little bit nervous, like, 'Oh my gosh I hope she likes me,'" Gardner said. "Our match coordinator told me she was a firecracker."
On their first outing together, Julian Jones and Malachi went with something a little different.
"It was both of our first times going axe-throwing, so that was really fun," Jones said.
It shouldn't be a surprise that, for K-State student-athletes and athletic staff, competition comes naturally in the Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters program.
In a year when COVID-19 has forced them to pause their sport for months, some of the first Wildcats to compete again in Manhattan have done it away from the spotlight. But when it comes to Big Brothers Big Sisters, they might never play more important games in their lives.
Gardner, a junior defender on K-State soccer, discovered the program through teammate Katie Cramer (now Goolsby) and her husband, former K-State defensive back Denzel Goolsby.
"Katie is actually my best friend and she would tell me about how awesome it was watching Denzel with his little brother Shannon," Gardner said. "She wished she would have gotten involved earlier because it's at least a one-year commitment. Well, I still had two years left."
Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters is the state chapter of a national organization, matching volunteers with children throughout the state, many facing adversity and single-parent homes.
The one-on-one relationship between "Bigs" and "Littles" is unique among the community service opportunities at Kansas State, and for that reason, the application process isn't quick.
"I started it before COVID happened and didn't finish it until a few weeks ago. You submit your application, then you get an interview and then there's a background check and references," Gardner said. "There are like 100 kids on the waiting list for a big brother or big sister. That number was really shocking to me and I wanted to do something to help."
Jones is new to Kansas after joining K-State as Assistant AD for Student-Athlete Development & Chief Diversity Officer, but Big Brothers Big Sisters has played an important role in his life.
Growing up in Cincinnati, Jones was a little brother in the program before heading to Youngstown State where he got involved as a mentor.
At Kansas State, he has continued to serve as a big brother while joining the program's community leadership council.
"A lot of times these children don't have enough role models that look like them, so it's important to help them see that different path," Jones said. "The process is really great, and they tell you every little detail that you need to know."
Big Brothers Big Sisters has long been an important community service partner for K-State student-athletes and staff. In 2018, K-State Athletics hosted "Big Day on Campus" as dozens of student-athletes welcomed kids to campus for a day of activities and "Big" and "Little" bonding.
Ahead of the 2017 Cactus Bowl, former K-State punter Nick Walsh gave away a Yeti cooler from the bowl game to anyone who retweeted a post encouraging mentors to join the program.
Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters Area Director Ty McClellan said that KSBBBS has a variety of opportunities for those looking to get involved, including a site-based program for mentors to meet with their little for about an hour at the same place each week.
Because the site-based program follows an academic schedule, it can be a great opportunity for student-athletes since their breaks will line up with many of the kids in the program.
"Our ultimate goal is that this a lifelong friendship," McClellan said. "That site-based program sets up so well for college students, and now with virtual meetings, they can stay connected."
Community service opportunities continue to play a huge role in the student-athlete experience at Kansas State.
Last season, the community service app Helper Helper recognized Gardner and K-State soccer as one of the top ten women's soccer programs in the country for hours of service performed.
When K-State was recruiting her, Gardner said she figured the focus on community service in Manhattan was similar to student-athletes at any other school.
"Then I got here, and I was like, 'Oh, this is real deal community service. We're doing it.' Just seeing the older girls doing Cats for Cans or Special Olympics, it's really what this team is about," Gardner said. "We're in the community making things happen."
McClellan has the numbers to prove just how important Big Brothers Big Sisters can be in changing the lives of children who are matched with mentors in the program.
"We're literally changing lives. When we surveyed former littles who are now adults, 46% have a household income of more than $75,000. Less than 3% of littles come into our program from a household with that income," McClellan said. "We even found that 78% vote in elections, which is way higher than most communities."
Jones and Gardner, who are still just getting know their littles, are helping make that future possible. And the positive impact is anything but one-sided.
Jones said that meeting Malachi and his mom was a great start to their friendship.
"They both got to know what I do and I know Malachi is excited that I work in sports," he said. "They also thought I was still in college at first, so I definitely appreciated that."
For Gardner, any nerves before meeting her little didn't last long once she met Alayna and they began to plan their first outing together.
"Anything outside she's probably doing it," Gardner said. "She wants to go to the water park in City Park, she mentioned horseback riding, and definitely ice cream, we both love ice cream."
When she met Taylor Gardner for the first time, Alayna challenged her to a race. Like, immediately.
"I was a little bit nervous, like, 'Oh my gosh I hope she likes me,'" Gardner said. "Our match coordinator told me she was a firecracker."
On their first outing together, Julian Jones and Malachi went with something a little different.
"It was both of our first times going axe-throwing, so that was really fun," Jones said.
It shouldn't be a surprise that, for K-State student-athletes and athletic staff, competition comes naturally in the Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters program.
In a year when COVID-19 has forced them to pause their sport for months, some of the first Wildcats to compete again in Manhattan have done it away from the spotlight. But when it comes to Big Brothers Big Sisters, they might never play more important games in their lives.
Gardner, a junior defender on K-State soccer, discovered the program through teammate Katie Cramer (now Goolsby) and her husband, former K-State defensive back Denzel Goolsby.
"Katie is actually my best friend and she would tell me about how awesome it was watching Denzel with his little brother Shannon," Gardner said. "She wished she would have gotten involved earlier because it's at least a one-year commitment. Well, I still had two years left."
Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters is the state chapter of a national organization, matching volunteers with children throughout the state, many facing adversity and single-parent homes.
The one-on-one relationship between "Bigs" and "Littles" is unique among the community service opportunities at Kansas State, and for that reason, the application process isn't quick.
"I started it before COVID happened and didn't finish it until a few weeks ago. You submit your application, then you get an interview and then there's a background check and references," Gardner said. "There are like 100 kids on the waiting list for a big brother or big sister. That number was really shocking to me and I wanted to do something to help."
Jones is new to Kansas after joining K-State as Assistant AD for Student-Athlete Development & Chief Diversity Officer, but Big Brothers Big Sisters has played an important role in his life.
Growing up in Cincinnati, Jones was a little brother in the program before heading to Youngstown State where he got involved as a mentor.
At Kansas State, he has continued to serve as a big brother while joining the program's community leadership council.
"A lot of times these children don't have enough role models that look like them, so it's important to help them see that different path," Jones said. "The process is really great, and they tell you every little detail that you need to know."
Big Brothers Big Sisters has long been an important community service partner for K-State student-athletes and staff. In 2018, K-State Athletics hosted "Big Day on Campus" as dozens of student-athletes welcomed kids to campus for a day of activities and "Big" and "Little" bonding.
Ahead of the 2017 Cactus Bowl, former K-State punter Nick Walsh gave away a Yeti cooler from the bowl game to anyone who retweeted a post encouraging mentors to join the program.
Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters Area Director Ty McClellan said that KSBBBS has a variety of opportunities for those looking to get involved, including a site-based program for mentors to meet with their little for about an hour at the same place each week.
Because the site-based program follows an academic schedule, it can be a great opportunity for student-athletes since their breaks will line up with many of the kids in the program.
"Our ultimate goal is that this a lifelong friendship," McClellan said. "That site-based program sets up so well for college students, and now with virtual meetings, they can stay connected."
Community service opportunities continue to play a huge role in the student-athlete experience at Kansas State.
Last season, the community service app Helper Helper recognized Gardner and K-State soccer as one of the top ten women's soccer programs in the country for hours of service performed.
When K-State was recruiting her, Gardner said she figured the focus on community service in Manhattan was similar to student-athletes at any other school.
"Then I got here, and I was like, 'Oh, this is real deal community service. We're doing it.' Just seeing the older girls doing Cats for Cans or Special Olympics, it's really what this team is about," Gardner said. "We're in the community making things happen."
McClellan has the numbers to prove just how important Big Brothers Big Sisters can be in changing the lives of children who are matched with mentors in the program.
"We're literally changing lives. When we surveyed former littles who are now adults, 46% have a household income of more than $75,000. Less than 3% of littles come into our program from a household with that income," McClellan said. "We even found that 78% vote in elections, which is way higher than most communities."
Jones and Gardner, who are still just getting know their littles, are helping make that future possible. And the positive impact is anything but one-sided.
Jones said that meeting Malachi and his mom was a great start to their friendship.
"They both got to know what I do and I know Malachi is excited that I work in sports," he said. "They also thought I was still in college at first, so I definitely appreciated that."
For Gardner, any nerves before meeting her little didn't last long once she met Alayna and they began to plan their first outing together.
"Anything outside she's probably doing it," Gardner said. "She wants to go to the water park in City Park, she mentioned horseback riding, and definitely ice cream, we both love ice cream."
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