- Sponsorship -

Building character: ALC members visit Green Acres

Eighth-grade athletes build community ties

Cedar Springs — Members of the Athletic Leadership Council at Red Hawk Intermediate are paying regular visits to Green Acres of Cedar Springs to strengthen community ties by playing bingo, completing puzzles and taking a few turns on the Wii with residents.

The ALC, now in its third year at Red Hawk, is composed of student athletes who join to promote athletics, form friendships and learn lessons about life and leadership through community engagement.

Red Hawk Intermediate eighth-graders Kendall Saboo, left, and Addy Nesbitt visit Green Acres of Cedar Springs

Eighth-graders in attendance during a recent visit said the trips help instill lessons that are valuable both on and off the court or field. 

“It’s mainly just to get involved with the community, and to get that interaction with people,” Randy Slocum said. “It builds better character.”

Added Vincent Medendorp: “It’s kind of like a field trip, but we’re kind of trying to get more involved with the community through activities.”

Jeff Myers, eighth-grade English teacher and football coach, said meeting with Green Acres residents is a way for the ALC members to grow and develop. 

“One of our ALC goals is to challenge. I challenged them to show leadership outside of school,” Myers said. “On our first visit … our student reps were great at displaying patience, kindness and assistance during the games.”

‘… it helps build a lot of responsibility and life skills, and learning how to interact with people. Right now we’re really on our phones, so I think it’s a good thing to get out and learn how to interact with people and have some valuable life experiences.’

— Morgan Sanders, Red Hawk Intermediate eighth-grader

‘Valuable Life Experiences’

Student Morgan Sanders, who participates in track and cross-country, said there’s much to be learned through the ALC and its outreach work.

“I think it helps build a lot of responsibility and life skills, and learning how to interact with people,” Morgan said. “Right now we’re really on our phones, so I think it’s a good thing to get out and learn how to interact with people and have some valuable life experiences.”

In addition to outreach, the ALC also works to forge bonds between athletes from different sports, and throughout the school as a whole.

“We just try to bring our school together a little bit,” Morgan said, “because we often get kind of separated by groups of kids. We try to unite people over athletics.” 

Read more from Cedar Springs: 
Putting in the work: Eighth-graders get involved through student ‘jobs’
Credit to Minecraft? Student plans future in engineering

- Sponsorship -
Riley Kelley
Riley Kelley
Riley Kelley is a reporter covering Cedar Springs, Grand Rapids, East Grand Rapids and Sparta school districts. An award-winning journalist, Riley spent eight years with the Ludington Daily News, reporting, copy editing, paginating and acting as editor for its weekly entertainment section. He also contributed to LDN’s sister publications, Oceana’s Herald-Journal and the White Lake Beacon. His reporting on issues in education and government has earned accolades from the Michigan Press Association and Michigan Associated Press Media Editors. Riley’s early work in journalism included a stint as an on-air news reporter for WMOM Radio, and work on the editorial staff of various student publications. Riley is a graduate of Grand Valley State University. He originally hails from western Washington.

LATEST ARTICLES

Related Articles

- Sponsorship -

Issues in Education

Making Headlines

- Sponsorship -

MEDIA PARTNERS

Maranda Where You Live WGVU

SUSTAINING SPONSORS