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LSU Student-Athletes Win with CHAMPS program
It's no secret that LSU has some of the best and most accomplished athletes in the NCAA. The 2003 season has been a stunning one for LSU athletics, including being named the 2003 BCS National Champions and Southeastern Conference (SEC) Champions. From early-morning practices to all-night bus trips and plane rides to out-of-state games, to long hours logged with trainers and tutors, the life of a student athlete is not as glamorous as it may seem to be. They often give up holidays that other students receive in order to practice for events and competitions. Their devotion to the game and team are very evident in the time they invest.
As if this was not enough, many of LSU's athletes decide to offer up more of their very limited time giving back to the community that so faithfully adores them. From traveling to nursing homes and visiting older fans that cannot manage to get out to athletic programs anymore, to pediatric wards and cheering up young patients and going to high schools to speak to and motivate younger students. Almost half of LSU's student athletes voluntarily participate in the Shaquille O'Neal CHAMPS Life Skills Program. It is not only designed to engage student athletes in reaching out to the community, but also to help them realize their ultimate academic potential, spur them on to a successful graduation and enter a chosen profession with a deeper vision, knowledge, motivation, and self-responsibility. The program does this by working with student-athletes in focusing on five areas: academic and athletic excellence, personal and career development, and community outreach, provides Kristen McFadden, assistant director of the program.
Most of an athlete's time is spent traveling and conditioning, after their tenure in college athletics, some are left unprepared to face the new stress of the real world. The CHAMPS program seeks to remedy this. The program is designed to work around their demanding, hectic schedules. While being encouraged and monitored in their athletic and academic progress by coaches, tutors, and mentors, participants in the program engage in community outreach. This serves not only to further their college experience, but also to enhance personal character. Not only does the community benefit from the outreach, but the athlete also develops a greater sense of personal satisfaction and growth, but also self-worth. –I can't describe in words how it feels to read and talk to the children…and to give back to a community that's given so much to us,” says Lauren Companioni a gymnast and junior majoring in psychology. Contact Jesse Hoggard| CCT | LSU
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