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Two-hundred Grand Rapids Public School students visited Michigan State University on Saturday to watch the Spartans as they faced off against the Florida Atlantic Owls, thanks to the proceeds of the MSU Club of West Michigan’s Steve Smith Charity Challenge live auction in June.
Students from Sibley Elementary School, Martin Luther King Leadership Academy and Cesar E. Chavez Elementary School traveled on deluxe motor coaches provided by Dean Transportation to attend the MSU and You: Determined, Active and Engaged Tailgate Event. This is the 3rd time the MSU Club of West Michigan will host this special tailgate for GRPS Students. The tailgate was held at MSU’s Old College Fieldhouse and featured food as well as games focused on physical health and wellness.
“I think this event will help students think about college earlier,” said Tricia Mathes, Principal of Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Academy. “We want them to think about education beyond middle school and beyond high school.”
“The SAF is thrilled students will spend the day on a Big Ten University campus and hopes that the experience will help them imagine themselves as university students one day,” said Susan Heartwell, executive director of the Student Advancement Foundation, which raises money for Grand Rapids Public Schools. “We are deeply grateful to the trip sponsors for providing this amazing opportunity.”
“It’s providing opportunities like this that makes me proud to be a Spartan,” said Mike Hughes, president of the MSU Alumni Club of West Michigan. “This is a great opportunity to educate young kids on the importance of higher education, while still making it fun and a great experience.”
The three bidders who generously donated the funds to help make this trip possible were able to choose which Grand Rapids Public School they wanted to send students from.
A special "thank you" goes out to Peter & Joan Secchia, the Clay Family, Attorney Patrick Miles and Truscott Rossman for making this trip possible.
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