What started as a community service effort by the Onondaga Community College Women’s Basketball team grew into an Education Day celebration that brought hundreds of students, teachers, and staff to the OCC campus.
The story began during the fall semester, when Women’s Basketball Coach Kelly Seibt was looking for a school where her players could volunteer. A connection came through Katelyn Pulver, who works with Seibt in OCC’s Financial Aid Center and whose sister, Jessica Matzke, is a third-grade teacher at Onondaga Central’s Wheeler Elementary School.
In November, Seibt brought her team to Wheeler Elementary for the first “Fist Bump Friday.” OCC student-athletes greeted students in grades three through six as they arrived at school, offering fist bumps and singing and dancing with them to help motivate and energize them for the day. The players also spent time in classrooms, reading with students and assisting them with math.
The experience proved so rewarding that the visits continued into December and, on one occasion, included members of the OCC Men’s Basketball team as well. As the visits continued, a meaningful bond formed between the Wheeler Elementary students and the OCC student-athletes - one that ultimately led to the idea for an Education Day celebration on the OCC campus.
That idea became a reality on January 21, when busloads of students, teachers, and staff from the Onondaga Central School District arrived at the SRC Arena for Education Day. The arena floor was filled with activities for students to enjoy, including basketball, a life-size chess board, oversized Jenga, and an OCC Campus Safety vehicle for students to explore. Also, the Women's and Men's Basketball teams moved their game times up with SUNY Broome, so the Onondaga Central School District community could cheer on Lazers' players they had bonded with. The OCC Women won 76-31, and the OCC Men recorded a 94-89 victory.
"It was a wonderful day and a huge success," said Seibt. "We're excited to build on this experience and make Education Day even better in the future!"
