For the second year, Stony Brook student-athletes met with middle and high school students participating in the annual Long Island Latino Teachers Association (LILTA) Summer Programs and shared insight into the life of a college student-athlete.
More than 55 middle and high school students participated in the on-campus program, which is coordinated through the Stony Brook University and Medicine Community Relations Office. It is part of a nearly decade-long partnership between the office and LILTA, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase graduation rates and encourage higher education enrollment and retention among Long Island students.
“We are grateful for LILTA’s partnership and collaboration on this annual visit to Stony Brook,” said Erika Karp, associate director of University and Medicine Community Relations. “We are excited to learn with these students and look forward to this program every summer.”
Arnika Edwards, assistant athletic director for Student Career and Leadership Development, helped coordinate the visits to the Stony Brook Sports Complex.
On July 9, 40 high school women participating in the Young Women’s Summer Institute visited Pritchard Gym, where the Women’s Volleyball Team demonstrated volleyball techniques and answered questions about their experiences in college. Afterward, the LILTA students attended a lunch and learn led by Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr. Kristin Hopkins, director of Stony Brook Medicine Women’s Sports Medicine Center, and Beverley Baptista-Anderson, practice manager for the Department of Orthopaedics. Dr. Hopkins discussed her journey in sports medicine and offered insight into careers in medicine and orthopaedic surgery.
On July 17, 16 middle school students visited Stony Brook Arena with the Stony Brook Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams, who led a mini-clinic for the students, followed by a Q&A session. Karp, along with Kristin Cuomo, community relations liaison, led icebreaker activities and a campus tour. The middle schoolers also got a taste of college life with lunch at East Side Dine-In.
“We hope this year’s LILTA students left campus feeling motivated to pursue a college degree,” Karp said.
Add comment