Bianca Braz, a freshman member of the cross country team, reacts a boy during a National Fitness Day event at Brenau. Brenau student-athletes spent time with children from the Boys & Girls Club of Lanier practicing various athletic activities. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Bianca Braz, a freshman member of the cross country team, reacts a boy during a National Fitness Day event at Brenau. Brenau student-athletes spent time with children from the Boys & Girls Club of Lanier practicing various athletic activities. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)

Student-Athletes Partner with Boys & Girls Clubs for National Fitness Day

Oct 24, 2017
Kristen Bowman

Brenau University has long partnered with the local Boys & Girls Clubs of Lanier, but the university took the cooperation to a new level on Friday, Oct. 13, bringing dozens of children to campus for the first time.

“It’s National Fitness Day for the Boys and Girls Clubs, so that’s where the idea for this originated,” said Brenau Athletic Director Mike Lochstampfor. “We have a great partnership with them, but we’re usually going over there to work with the kids. So we thought we’d bring them here this time.”

Brenau student-athletes and coaches broke the children into groups, taking some to the gym, some onto a practice field and some on the university tennis courts. The children then participated in relays, hula-hoop contests and soccer drills, to name just a few activities, and posed for pictures with the cheerleaders in uniform.

Jasmine Jenkins, athletic director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lanier, said the afternoon of activities was a great opportunity for the children.

“Jasmine is also an assistant basketball coach for us at times, and she’s very involved at the Boys & Girls Clubs,” Lochstampfor said. “It’s a great partnership.”