EUREKA, Calif..--- The Humboldt State University men's basketball team conducted a community outreach program at Grant Elementary School in Eureka, Calif., today for over 200 kids ranging from kindergarten to fifth grade.
The elementary kids were able to connect and develop new relationships with the college student-athletes during lunchtime and out on the playground. The Lumberjacks spoke to the kids emphasizing safe, respectable, and responsible play and stressing the importance regarding academics in the classroom. The 'Jacks performed fundamental drills ranging from ball handling and passing to spectacular slam dunks while the kids cheered from the sidelines. The student-athletes also taught basketball skill development on the playground and signed autographs before the kids returned to the classroom.
The Lumberjacks were represented by two international student-athletes,
Victor Mijas from Brazil and Gabrys Sadaunkyas from Lithuania,
Arash Poorsina from San Francisco, and
Ruben Parks, Jr. from Fresno.
QUOTES FROM RUBEN PARKS, JR. AND ARASH POORSINA
Ruben Parks, Jr.
"Being new to this community, it was awesome going to Grant Elementary School and seeing how much the kids looked up to us as student-athletes."
Victor Mijas
"It was a great experience to be around those kids and see all their happiness during the day. For me, it is so grateful to be there with my teammates as a role model, and know that you are inspiring them somehow to play sports, where sports can make you visit a variety of places around the world and build who I am today."
Arash Poorsina
"It was great to give back to the community and emphasize the importance and relevance of how much basketball coexists with education. We can relate basketball with almost everything that these elementary kids, like the importance of preparation, accountability, and persistence. It was time well spent and I cannot wait to visit the school again. Really heartwarming to know that I made an impact today on little kids' lives."
Gabrys Sadaunkyas
"It was an awesome experience to go to Grant Elementary School today, see all of the kids and share our knowledge with them. I hope we will ahve more opportunities like this in the future!"
