University of Tennessee Athletics
UT "April Play Day" Set For Wednesday
April 06, 2001 | General
A combined effort from the UT Athletics Department, TeamVOLS Volunteer Center, and many other campus organizations, "April Play Day" is designed to introduce children from local Boys and Girls Clubs to campus life and to let them know that college is attainable. Through the testimonies of student volunteers and student-athletes, the children will learn that, if they practice and work diligently at what they love the most, be it art, poetry, dance, and/or sports, then college will be an easy step in helping them make all of their dreams come true.
The event will take place Wednesday, April 11, on the arena floor at Thompson-Boling Arena from 4:30 to 7 p.m.
"Our focus for 'April Play Day' is to impact kids and leave a lasting impression in their minds that college is attainable. With hard work and dedication they too can have the experience of college," said UTAD's Chris Morland, coordinator of the project. "'April Play Day' furthers the purpose of the university in weaving college students into all aspects of the community."
Events will include tossing the football, basketball (free throw shooting/dribbling), golf (with plastic clubs and wiffle balls), a baseball toss, racing the Volunteers in track, and soccer, among others. The Ray Mears Room will be used for autographs, guest speakers, a visit from Vol mascot Smokey and videos of athletic and university highlights.
"This is a partnership between the Men's and Women's Athletics Departments, the Student-Athletic Advisory Committee and the on-campus organization of Team Vols," Morland said. "Our goal as partners is to integrate the student-body and the student-athletes to provide hope to the children of the local Boys and Girls Clubs to follow their dreams and show them that they can accomplish anything."
Members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee from the men's program include Chris Burke (baseball), Jon Higgins (basketball), Andy Brimer (golf), John Finlayson and Andre James (football), Michael Gross (vice-president, swimming), Andy Crews (tennis), and Tim Bell and Eric Bell (track).
From the women's side, members include Kara Lawson (basketball), Christy Baird (cross-country), Young-A Yang (golf), Tori Beeler (soccer), Adrianna Wilson and Stephanie Humphrey (softball), Missy Bell (swimming), Alison Ojeda (tennis), Diane Slinden (track), Grace Harrington (rowing, president), and Ariana Wilson (volleyball).
