?School is Cool? Prepares 8th Graders for High School

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Lincoln - The “School is Cool” program made a successful comeback on Monday, April 17th at LincolnSouthwestHigh School when over 2,000 8th graders from the Lincoln Public Schools gathered to hear advice and messages from University of Nebraska student-athlete role models, Miss Nebraska 2005 and “No Better Cause”. The focus of the program was to better prepare 8th graders for the transition into high school.

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The “School is Cool” Celebration is a smaller version of the nationally acclaimed “School is Cool” Jam, which impacted over 100,000 middle level students throughout the state of Nebraska from 1992 through 2001. Transportation costs and field trip reductions contributed to the discontinuation of the popular motivational assembly. The event was made possible this year when former Husker and current Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro lineman Will Shields provided a generous donation to the Lincoln Public Schools Foundation to cover all transportation costs for the event.

 

The first ever “School is Cool” Celebration kicked off with a motivational message from Nebraska Track and Field standout Ashley Selig. Selig, a national champion in the pentathlon, spoke of the importance of time management, and challenged students to be organized as they transition into high school.

 

“I live with my planner and on a daily basis write down separate to do lists for academics, athletics and personal matters,” Selig said.

 

Teammate Priscilla Lopes, a world class sprinter and NCAA champion from Canada, stressed the importance of focus and determination.

 

“When I am on the track I focus solely on track and tune everything else out,” Lopes said. “When I am in the classroom, school gets 100 pecent of my attention.

 

Husker football players Zac Taylor and Cortney Grixby both shared important messages at “School is Cool”. Honored just two days earlier as members of the Brook Berringer Citizenship team for their dedicated community efforts, Zac and Cortney also reinforced messages with athletic demonstrations. Taylor, Nebraska’s starting quarterback, encouraged all 8th graders to go into high school with an open mind and positive attitude. Grixby, a starting cornerback and punt returner, talked about the importance of having a positive self-belief system in order to achieve success.

 

Basketball student-athletes Bronsen Schliep and Jason Dourisseau also spoke at the celebration. Schliep, who will graduate on May 6th with a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA told students to take pride in academic excellence.

 

“I’m proud that I have excelled in college,” said Schliep, who earned a full-academic scholarship to Nebraska. “It starts now for all of you. You have a new beginning and should work toward earning scholarships.”

 

Dourisseau, also a soon to be UNL graduate, challenged the 8th graders to take advantage of the many opportunities afforded to them in high school.

 

“You will meet new friends from diverse backgrounds and can become involved in various activities,” Dourisseau said.

 

National volleyball player-of-the-year Christina Houghtelling told the students to always strive for improvement.

 

“I wasn’t happy with my sophomore season at Nebraska and knew I needed to make a stronger commitment and do the extra things to become great,” Houghtelling said. “The same applies for success in school.”

 

Brittany Timko, an NCAA All-American and Canadian National Team soccer standout talked about the importance of proactive communication with teachers and letting professors know you have high expectations for academic success.

 

Freshman softball pitcher Molly Hill, who is enjoying a fabulous freshman year on and off the field, spoke of being a person of courage and character.

 

In addition to the various athletic demonstrations which reinforced the various messages, the students were entertained by the musical talents of Lincoln’s own “No Better Cause”. Members of “No Better Cause” also advised the students to find an interest they are passionate about and work hard to become great.

 

Feedback from the “School is Cool” Celebration was very positive from both students and administrators alike. Plans are to make the “School is Cool” Celebration an annual event while continually working toward the ultimate goal of bringing back the “School is Cool” program on a statewide level to impact students beyond the community of Lincoln.