SE: Little Things Making Big Impacts
Jan 18, 2022 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Days before Kansas State ended its football season with an impressive 42-20 win over LSU in the 2021 TaxAct Texas Bowl, the Wildcats scored another victory in being able to connect with an ambassador family through the DePelchin Children's Center, which is an accredited foster care and adoption agency serving children and families in Texas.
On December 18, representatives from the TaxAct Texas Bowl met with K-State assistant athletic director and chief diversity officer Julian Jones. They introduced Jones to Christi and her five children when the team arrived on January 30 in Houston.
The family accompanied the team to the Rodeo Bowl on January 1 and participated with dozens of other children in the DePelchin Field Day on January 2 at the indoor practice facility at the University of Houston. This was an opportunity for Christi and her five children and other Houston-area youth to engage in some of the very drills that college football players execute on a regular basis.
Senior quarterback Skylar Thompson and senior safety Jahron McPherson presented each of the ambassador family's five children with a K-State backpack, personalized K-State football uniform tops, t-shirts, and hats. At the Hilton Americas, the team hotel, freshman wide receiver Brenen Hawkins deferred his bowl gifts to the ambassador family, allowing the children to pick out their own favorite items.
The family also accompanied the K-State football team on the team bus and joined the players on their Spirit Walk heading into NRG Stadium prior to the bowl game.
"The most gratifying part for us were the smiles on their faces and their excitement," Jones said. "It was great to see how excited the kids were. They were really excited about the bus ride. Some people would've been excited about other things, but they were so excited about riding on the bus and liked the police escort. Little things like that made them excited and that was great."
Jones said that he received warm wishes from Christi via e-mail on January 10: "Hi, Julian. I just wanted to let you all know that we're still feeling the excitement and K-State energy. We enjoyed every minute. We went to a Texans game yesterday and the kids were wondering where the busses were and asked for Mr. Julian. Please tell everyone at K-State hi."
The time with the DePelchin Children's Center ambassador family marked the latest in community service efforts by the K-State Athletic Department and the K-State football program. Football players dedicate a portion of their time visiting Manhattan-area elementary schools, many players are active participants as mentors in Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and many players also visit hospitals and retirement communities.
K-State Athletic Department student-athletes finished the fall semester with 2,200 community service hours through 40 opportunities that supported 28 different organizations.
Part of the K-State student-athlete's mission off the field is to bring joy to others.
In doing so, student-athletes feel a sense of satisfaction and enjoyment as well.
"It was exciting that we were able to share the experiences with our team and how we impacted our ambassador family from the DePelchin Children's Center in Texas," Jones said. "Although our student-athletes engage in various community service efforts in the Manhattan area, many had not had the chance to experience interaction with an ambassador family. It was an amazing experience. We're more than student-athletes here. Servant leadership is important to them."
Days before Kansas State ended its football season with an impressive 42-20 win over LSU in the 2021 TaxAct Texas Bowl, the Wildcats scored another victory in being able to connect with an ambassador family through the DePelchin Children's Center, which is an accredited foster care and adoption agency serving children and families in Texas.
On December 18, representatives from the TaxAct Texas Bowl met with K-State assistant athletic director and chief diversity officer Julian Jones. They introduced Jones to Christi and her five children when the team arrived on January 30 in Houston.
The family accompanied the team to the Rodeo Bowl on January 1 and participated with dozens of other children in the DePelchin Field Day on January 2 at the indoor practice facility at the University of Houston. This was an opportunity for Christi and her five children and other Houston-area youth to engage in some of the very drills that college football players execute on a regular basis.
Senior quarterback Skylar Thompson and senior safety Jahron McPherson presented each of the ambassador family's five children with a K-State backpack, personalized K-State football uniform tops, t-shirts, and hats. At the Hilton Americas, the team hotel, freshman wide receiver Brenen Hawkins deferred his bowl gifts to the ambassador family, allowing the children to pick out their own favorite items.
The family also accompanied the K-State football team on the team bus and joined the players on their Spirit Walk heading into NRG Stadium prior to the bowl game.
"The most gratifying part for us were the smiles on their faces and their excitement," Jones said. "It was great to see how excited the kids were. They were really excited about the bus ride. Some people would've been excited about other things, but they were so excited about riding on the bus and liked the police escort. Little things like that made them excited and that was great."
Jones said that he received warm wishes from Christi via e-mail on January 10: "Hi, Julian. I just wanted to let you all know that we're still feeling the excitement and K-State energy. We enjoyed every minute. We went to a Texans game yesterday and the kids were wondering where the busses were and asked for Mr. Julian. Please tell everyone at K-State hi."
Here is our KSU ambassador family having a good time! #ksufootball #texasbowl2022 pic.twitter.com/Xfj8nQe8tP
— DePelchin Children's Center (@depelchin) January 6, 2022
The time with the DePelchin Children's Center ambassador family marked the latest in community service efforts by the K-State Athletic Department and the K-State football program. Football players dedicate a portion of their time visiting Manhattan-area elementary schools, many players are active participants as mentors in Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and many players also visit hospitals and retirement communities.
K-State Athletic Department student-athletes finished the fall semester with 2,200 community service hours through 40 opportunities that supported 28 different organizations.
Part of the K-State student-athlete's mission off the field is to bring joy to others.
In doing so, student-athletes feel a sense of satisfaction and enjoyment as well.
"It was exciting that we were able to share the experiences with our team and how we impacted our ambassador family from the DePelchin Children's Center in Texas," Jones said. "Although our student-athletes engage in various community service efforts in the Manhattan area, many had not had the chance to experience interaction with an ambassador family. It was an amazing experience. We're more than student-athletes here. Servant leadership is important to them."
Players Mentioned
Wednesday, June 03
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Thursday, May 28
