Injured ’Hawks help at schools
KU track athlete Anson Jackson spends part of his fifth year of studies working with students at Lawrence’s West Junior High School as part of the Helping Hawks program. Jeff Jacobsen/KUAC
Seven student-athletes are playing games of a different kind as they work with Lawrence children in the 2003-04 “Helping Hawks” program.
The Helping Hawks program places a KU fifth-year or athletes not participating
in their sport because of an injury in an elementary or secondary school
in Lawrence for up to 10 hours per week during the academic year. The
role of the student-athletes varies—they serve as playground helpers,
classroom assistants and tutors, or perform other tasks as assigned by
their supervising teacher.
“We believe that the Helping Hawks program is a perfect example
of a win-win situation,” said Nancy Hettwer, Helping Hawks coordinator.
“The student-athletes benefit from the experience of working with
children, the schools benefit from their efforts and the children benefit
from the interaction with the student-athletes. Our student-athletes enjoy
interacting in the community, and the Helping Hawks program provides a
great opportunity for them to do so.”