Bruins read to local elementary school students

In an ongoing NAIA Champions of Character initiative, members of the Bellevue University men's basketball team visited Birchcrest Elementary School on Friday, Mar. 18. Various members of the team read and shared stories with the students.

The team coordinated their efforts through Birchcrest teacher Becky Baldwin and read to all grade levels, kindergarten through sixth.

Bellevue freshman guard Ben Imig stated, “Reading to the kids was a fun experience. I enjoyed my time at Birchcrest elementary and I think the kids had a lot of fun, too.”

Junior guard Jelani Johnson said, “The kids were very excited to have us there and that alone made the experience well worth it.”

The Bruins plan on coming back again in the fall and Baldwin stated she would be bringing a group of the students to a home game next season.

Bruin junior Cliff Sutherland concluded, “I had a great experience. Reading stories to the class reminded me of when I was young and we had speakers come in…I was always amazed at how tall or how big the speaker’s shoes were. These kids are our future so hopefully we gave them a good memory to hold onto.”