Thousands of NPS Elementary School Students to Cheer on Lady Monarchs Dec. 4
December 02, 2013
Bring your earplugs. The annual Education Day game hosted by the Old Dominion University Lady Monarchs basketball team is attracting a record crowd this year.
On Wednesday, Dec. 4, more than 6,000 students from Norfolk Public Schools will visit ODU's Ted Constant Convocation Center and scream their lungs out when the Lady Monarchs host UMass-Lowell. This will smash last year's attendance of 2,900 schoolchildren. More than 100 school buses will arrive between 10 and 10:30 a.m. at the Ted for the 11 a.m. tipoff.
Students from 31 elementary schools and Madison Alternative School will participate in Education Day, an annual holiday tradition on the Lady Monarchs' schedule.
The event is designed to showcase ODU - and the women's basketball team - to young students in the area. But the Lady Monarchs enjoy the experience as much as the kids, playing before a loud, packed arena.
Students from Larchmont Elementary will sing the national anthem before the game, and Chesterfield Academy students will perform at halftime.
ODU undergraduate sport management students taught by Andi Lyons, lecturer in human movement sciences, have helped facilitate the visit and arrange food vouchers at the Ted.
"The SMGT 453 Event Planning and Sponsorship class has worked relentlessly the entire semester in organizing 32 Norfolk elementary schools for the Day of Partnership with the Lady Monarchs," Lyons said.
"Each student served as an ODU Sport Management Ambassador - from the invitation to attend the game through logistics in transportation, tickets, meals and a spirit contest. This event was a valuable learning lesson as well as a great training platform for real-world experiences. I'm looking forward to a well-run game and great job by the students."
For media credentials, contact Grant Gardner, women's basketball athletic communications director, at 683-3372 or ggardner@odu.edu.