Kids Have A Ball At Cool School Field Trip

But that’s exactly what took place at the Charlotte Coliseum on Monday morning, October 17, as the Charlotte Bobcats faced the Atlanta Hawks in preseason play.

In one of the most unique settings in all of professional sports, the Charlotte Bobcats hosted over 15,000 students and teachers at their second annual Cool School Field Trip: A Read To Achieve Celebration presented by Harris Teeter and co-sponsored by Kraft Foods Global Inc. and Discovery Place.

With the Coliseum filled with cheering students, the energy was palpable and the sound deafening.

"It seemed like they were having a lot of fun," exclaimed Bobcats center Jake Voskuhl. "There were a couple of times out there I was trying to talk to one of my teammates and I couldn’t even talk to them it was so loud."

From the moment they walked into the building, the students were ready to cheer on their favorite team.

"I think it’s pretty cool," said Jake Banter, an eighth grader from Grier Middle School, as he waited for the game to begin. "I’ve never seen a Bobcats game. I like getting out of school to come to a game."

Others were thrilled to be able to see some of their favorite players in action. Some students even brought signs with them to help cheer the Bobcats onto victory.

One of those students was Victoria Flowers, a seventh grader from Grandview Middle, who along with her classmates, held up signs proclaiming, "Go Bobcats."

"It’s exciting because all of my favorite players play on the Bobcats," exclaimed Flowers, who along with her friend Ashley Harris was hoping for a Bobcats win.

To be able to attend the game, the students, who came from 71 private and public elementary schools in North and South Carolina, were required to demonstrate strong academic performance and commendable character.

"This is a great opportunity for the kids to come out," said Bobcats Head Coach Bernie Bickerstaff. "The best thing about it is the reason they are allowed to come out, because they have made some kind of contribution. They’ve earned the right to be in this situation."

"We had to be in the Yoda program, which is a program in our school where we get rewarded for being good students, having good grades and good conduct,” explained Christina Davis, and eighth grader from Gaston Day School when asked what she had to do to be able to attend the game.

While the game was a reward for students who fulfilled the necessary requirements, it also served as a teaching tool.

Throughout the game students participated in trivia contests that involved math and reading. They were also given a workbook filled with worksheets and educational activities - all relating to the Bobcats.

"Cool school is a wonderful opportunity for our organization to create a unique kids only educational experience in a game day setting," said Bobcats Vice President of Community Relations LaRita Barber. "To be able to impact kids in such a positive way is very rewarding to our organization."

The kids also got to hear from some of their favorite players the importance of education.

Through a message shown on the scoreboard above the Coliseum, Bobcats forward Emeka Okafor congratulated the kids and told them how important his education at Connecticut had been. "You worked very hard to get here," he told them. "Keep up the good work!"

Sean May also addressed the kids and recited with them the Read To Achieve pledge.

"This is great because some of our kids would never get this opportunity," said Marshall Michael, a teacher from Mount Holly Middle School. "It’s a great incentive for them."

Those feeling were echoed by Kassy Anderson, a teacher from Mint Hill Middle School, who to the delight of the students in her school participated in a sack race on center court.

"I think it’s really cool," she said. "It promotes education, good behavior and reading."

Even though the game was focused on promoting reading and education, it was also just about having a good time.

"I think it’s a really fun opportunity for us to hang out with our friends and come see a Bobcats game," said Christina Davis.

To top it all off, the Bobcats, behind the energy from the students won their second-consecutive preseason game.

"Their energy helped us," said Bobcats guard Brevin Knight. "I’m glad we were able to get them a win. Hopefully we’ll be able to get some more of them to come back to some games with that same energy."

By Malinda Murray, BobcatsBasketball.com