Nov. 18, 2009

By Jared Greenbaum
UCFAthletics.com

ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF student-athletes and representatives of UCF Athletics had the opportunity to give back to the community this week, putting their teaching abilities to the test by participating in a Teach-In Day at Orange and Seminole County elementary schools. The volunteers were spread out among 11 different schools, including Little River, Arbor Ridge, Pinar, Camelot, Timber Lakes, Cypress Springs, Joan Walker, East Lake, Bonneville, Pine Crest, and Cheney.

A wide range of UCF varsity sports were involved, as student-athletes from baseball, softball, track and field, men's and women's golf, men's soccer and women's rowing all contributed to the initiative. Athletics representatives also came out in full force, as volunteers from departments including marketing, ticket sales, human resources and academic services and development spoke to children as well.

Mike O'Donnell, a former member of UCF men's basketball and current graduate assistant in the Golden Knights Club, spoke to and interacted with fifth graders at Joan Walker Elementary.

"The students were very respectful and enthusiastic," O'Donnell said. "They had a lot of questions and were excited about all of UCF's sports teams. I happened to share the room with the men's golf team who did an outstanding job relating to the kids, despite the large difference in ages. Teach-In Day was a great way to talk to the kids about the booming University of Central Florida, located just around their corner."

UCF will be hosting two special elementary school appreciation days this winter at the UCF arena. The first will take place on Sunday, Dec. 6, when the women's basketball team takes on Washington. Tickets for the women's game are $3 per a person, which includes admission and special pregame event in which elementary school students will be able to interact with student-athletes.

The second appreciation day will be held on Saturday, Dec. 12, when the men's basketball team faces Bethune-Cookman. Tickets for the men's game are $8 per person and will also include admission and a pregame event with student-athletes. For more information or to purchase tickets for one or both of these events, call the ticket sales office at 407-823-1000.

The UCF athletics' program has not only participated in Teach-In Day - student-athletes and Athletics representatives have volunteered and given back to the community on multiple occasions this fall. Just recently, the UCF baseball team participated in a "Keep Seminole County Beautiful" event in which they helped with landscaping and keeping trails clear. The student-athletes also spent time with the Miracle League, a youth baseball league designed to give mentally and physically disabled children the opportunity to participate in a sport that might otherwise have very limited access for them. The team also worked with four local little leagues, conducting drills and giving players a great chance at learning the skills they need to be successful from some of the top collegiate players and coaches in Division I baseball.

For the latest news on the Knights, log on to UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.