For the fifth year, St. Louis University recently invited 1,300 children from local area elementary schools to attend a basketball game.
The SLU Billikens defeated St. Joseph's Hawks on January 29 by the paper thin margin of one point, with the extra cheering from the visitors no doubt helping them to the 52-51 victory. The real aim of the day, though, was to encourage lifelong learning, and reading in particular, in a way that combines it with the excitement of sport.
The event was called the ‘Billiken, Books, and basketball’ field trip, and Lisa Stone, head coach of women's basketball, said the university was glad to be able to showcase the school's programs to such a large number of students from the local area. She noted community is a cornerstone of the athletics program, and added the team was pleased to have the children's support in their contest against St. Joseph's.
The university's athletics director, Chris May, said the institution truly enjoys hosting Education Day each year, since it highlights the department's objectives on competition, education, and community. He describes the offering as “a fun, educational component for young people”.
University officials could work with brochure printers on a booklet to be mailed to area schools, outlining the purpose of the day and inviting them to participate in future field trips to SLU.Get a Free Quote for Books
