Free Fun for Putnam County Kids at DePauw's 'Sports Nights'

September 18, 2001

September 18, 2001, Greencastle, Ind. - If you're a Putnam County parent, your children are invited to Sports Nights. The five free programs, administered by student volunteers at DePauw's Hartman Center for Civic Education and Leadership, give local children opportunities to participate in sports activities, interact with DePauw students and are designed to create new interactions between the DePauw and Greencastle communities.

Researchers have found that, by a two-to-one ratio, boys who participate in sports do better in school, do not drop out and have a better chance to get through college. For girls, the ratio is three-to-one. The study by Hardiness Research also found that school athletes are more self-assured, take average and above-average classes, and appear to change focus from cars and money to life accomplishments during the process.

Sports Night is open to Putnam County first through fifth graders. Activites include swimming, outdoor events, and a variety of games. Over 190 DePauw students have volunteered to be counselors this semester.

"Many people find it shocking that there is no cost to the community to participate in Sports Night," says Emily Jakubisin, a Hartman Center intern and co-director of Sports Night. "They also find it hard to believe that roughly 200 college kids would want to spend a Friday or Sunday night every month playing games and hanging out with local children. I can tell you that DePauw's student volunteers have been through training programs and are excited to show the youth of Putman County how great playing sports can be."

This semester's Sports Nights are:

• Friday, September 28, 2001 6-8 p.m.
• Sunday, October 7, 2001 3-5 p.m.
• Friday, October 26, 2001 6-8 p.m.
• Friday, November 16, 2001 6-8 p.m.
• Sunday, December 2, 2001 3-5 p.m.

To register, simply bring your child(ren) to the first Sports Night on Friday, September 28 at 6 p.m. Student volunteers will be located in Bowman Park on the corner of Locust and Hanna Streets on DePauw's campus (across from the Union Building). For more information, call the Sports Night office at (765) 658-4684, mailbox 3.

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