455 NATIONAL YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAM AT MTSU CANCELED

NATIONAL YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAM AT MTSU CANCELEDDUE TO LACK OF FEDERAL FUNDING, REPORT ORGANIZERSMTSU’s

Bonner, Event Coordinators Hope Free Day Camp Will Return in 2007

EDITORIAL CONTACT: Lisa L. Rollins, 615-898-2919


(MURFREESBORO)—Dr. Gloria Bonner, dean of MTSU’s College of Education and Behavioral Science, has announced that the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP), which was scheduled to take place June 1-July 3 at MTSU, has been canceled.
For the past three summers, MTSU’s Department of Health and Human Performance (HHP) has overseen the grant-funded, monthlong endeavor that combines sports instruction and recreation with educational programs for some 300 at-risk youth from qualifying low-income families. However, as a result of no federal funding as provided for in the bill known as H.R. 3010, NYSP will not be conducted at MTSU this year, Bonner confirmed.
“We regret that we are not able to be a host site for this wonderful program this time, but we are optimistic that NYSP will return to the MTSU campus in 2007,” remarked Bonner, who said community support for the program remains outstanding, including ongoing support from MTSU President Sidney McPhee and Congressman Bart Gordon, among other community leaders.
“We have already gotten calls from families whose children were looking forward to attending NYSP this year,” said Dr. Dianne Bartley, HHP chairwoman and NYSP coordinator. “It’s quite disheartening to have to turn them away, because for many of these children, we were their only summer activity—the bright spot in their summertime—and we feel they were counting on us.”
For the past three years, MTSU’s NYSP staff and volunteers have provided hundreds of Rutherford County youth, ages 10-16, with a full month of educational, health-focused activities, lessons and life skills from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Monday-Friday, as well as free transportation to and from NYSP, two USDA-approved meals each day, and free medical and dental health screenings.
In years past, NYSP campgoers—aside from their participation in activities such as self-defense, soccer, swimming, basketball, tennis, volleyball, golf, racquetball, weight training, and social and aerobic dance—also took part in educational classes presented by MTSU educators and community leaders on topics such as alcohol/drug abuse and violence prevention, proper nutrition, personal health and disease prevention, career opportunities and job responsibilities, and higher education.
"The past three years that we have been in charge of coordinating the National Youth Sports Program, it's been wonderfully successful," said Dr. Cheryl Slaughter Ellis, HHP professor and NYSP liaison. "It’s quite unfortunate that we can’t provide this camp in 2006 for those deserving youth, the ones who need this so much. But we’re confident that we can give them the best-ever NYSP experience next time … and we’re grateful for all the community support we’ve received."

Part of the support that MTSU’s NYSP organizers are thankful for is the continued generosity of those from all sections in the community who have donated gifts and prizes to the local program’s participants.
“Every single child who has participated in our NYSP has gotten a prize of some kind every year, whether it was a bicycle, a pair of shoes, toys or a coupon for free food,” remarked Bonner.
“No NYSP participant, not one, ever walked away empty-handed, thanks to the gracious support of people such as Dr. Alvin Singh and (Rutherford County Schools staff member) Joe Herbert,” she added. “We have so many supporters in the community who have bought prizes for NYSP and donated goods or services for its young people, and we are so very appreciative of them.”
Established nationally in 1968, NYSP’s creed is "Walk Tall, Stand Tall." In the recent past, more than 78,000 youth participated in NYSP on some 200 college campuses nationwide, including MTSU. However, only two Tennessee NYSP sites for 2007 will be offered; namely, the NYSP at Tennessee State University, which has a 20-plus-year program history, and the NYSP at Bethel College.
“This would have been our fourth year for the National Youth Sports Program at MTSU … and I know we will have that fourth year yet, because we’re encouraged by the continued show of support we have from people such as Congressman Gordon, President McPhee and all levels of the community,” said Bonner, who anticipates that congressional and senatorial commitment for H.R. 3010 will be secured.
NYSP organizers at MTSU said those interested in helping ensure that the program for at-risk youth returns to MTSU in 2007 may contact their local senate and congressional representatives and request that they actively support NYSP via their votes.



• ATTENTION, MEDIA: To request interview with MTSU’s NYSP staff and volunteers, or to request an interview with a member of MTSU’s NYSP board, please contact Lisa L. Rollins in the Office of News and Public Affairs at lrollins@mtsu.edu or by calling 1-615-898-2919.