Women's Basketball Team And Spirit Squads Honor Hillcrest Elementary School

April 26, 2010

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

The Kansas women’s basketball team and KU Mascots took part in a special school assembly at Hillcrest Elementary School in Lawrence on Monday, April 26 at 3 p.m. The Jayhawks presented Hillcrest with the “Schools for Success” Elementary School Challenge award. “Schools for Success” is a program developed by Kansas Athletics made possible by the NCAA Women’s Basketball Grant Program. The grant was awarded to Kansas Athletics in 2009 for the purpose of increasing awareness and attendance for KU Women’s Basketball.

“The “Schools for Success” program was a big hit,” said Kansas head coach Bonnie Henrickson. “It was great for our players to get out in the community and build relationships with the students and faculty and we really appreciated the support the Lawrence schools showed us throughout the season.”

The Elementary School Attendance Challenge was a friendly competition between 15 Lawrence schools to have the highest percentage attendance rate at home KU Women’s Basketball games during the 2009-10 season. The school with the highest rate of attendance at the end of the season, which was Hillcrest, was awarded a $10,000 stipend to use to their discretion.

Kansas Athletics provided an admission card to each student in the K-6th grade which allowed free admission at the gate to all home games. In addition, the card could be presented at the KU ticket office to receive a $3 ticket for family and friends and $1 candy at concessions. They could also present the card at the Lawrence Jason’s Deli to receive a free kids meal (dine-in only and limit one per visit).

Each elementary was adopted by a member of the KU Women’s Basketball team, who visited her adopted school to meet the students, read, eat lunch, play at recess, and provide a positive role model for the kids in the community. Hillcrest Elementary School’s adopted player was freshman guard Monica Engelman, who was honored by the school on Monday afternoon.

“I really enjoyed getting to spend time with the students, faculty and staff at Hillcrest,” said Engelman. “I had a good time visiting the school and then seeing all of them show up to support us at our games was exciting. They did a great job of not only supporting me, but our whole team. I loved seeing all of their signs and smiling faces. I am looking forward to visiting them again next season.”