Red Wolves connect with Twin Valley Kindergarteners
IU East Men's Basketball Team interacts with Kindergarteners
Richmond, Ind. -Indiana University East men's basketball players made the journey to Twin Valley South in West Alexandria, Ohio to read to a kindergarten class on February 9 and 10. The teacher, Angela Fairchild, is a proud supporter of IU East athletics and is the official scorekeeper of the Red Wolves men's basketball team.
The kindergartners have become fans of the Red Wolves basketball program, and invited the players to meet them. Daniel Metzelfeld, a freshman at IU East, made the first visit to the students.
"When I walked into the classroom, the kids started cheering and holding up Red Wolves signs. It was kind of amazing to realize that kids that young view you as a role model and want to emulate you," Metzelfeld said.
The following day Nate Fraley and Devon Niehoff, both freshman students at IU East, visited the classroom. They also received a warm introduction by the classroom.
"As student-athletes we want to do more than just play our sport. It is very fulfilling to build relationships with the surrounding community," Niehoff said. "I like having the opportunity to read to the kids and be a positive role model. It's a good opportunity to talk with kids and to be able to answer questions about basketball or college."
The kindergarten class was very appreciative to the student-athletes and for the time the Red Wolves spent in their classroom.
"My students were thrilled to have members of the Red Wolves basketball team come visit our classroom. Their visit exposed my students to positive role models at an early age, which is an important part of their education," Fairchild said. "These young men exemplified excellent characteristics while interacting with my students. I have a classroom full of enthusiastic Red Wolves fans."
As the Red Wolves athletic program continues to work with the NAIA Champions of Character program student-athletes will continue to build relationships with the surrounding community. IU East values the opportunity to get their student-athletes involved in programs that benefit the community, and will continue to schedule events surrounding this initiative in the future.