University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Volunteer With Trent Tucker Scholars
1/21/2011 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Eleven Minnesota athletes recently participated in the program and spent meaningful time with local sixth, seventh and eighth graders. Melissa Norton from the women's swimming/diving team volunteered with football players Michael Carter, Keanon Cooper, Christyn Lewis and Shady Salamon and women's track team members Todea-Kay Willis, Rebecca Pilkerton, Kylie Peterson, Chim Okoroji, Amy Kubat and Nyoka Giles. The Gophers promoted a positive image of being both a college student and an athlete and encouraged the students to achieve a higher education.
The Gophers lead an activity that taught the students about the connection between an active body and increased brain power. The activity involved the group memorizing as many objects on a board as possible. They were then were split in half and one group was involved in exercise and the other played a game of "go fish." The students then came back and tried to memorize as many items as possible with some new objects added to the board to see how exercise can promote higher brain activity. This community outreach event was part of the St. Jude Medical Foundation's "Exercise Your Heart and Mind" program.
