Nevada athletic department's Outreach Program kicks off
by Zack Hall, Outpost staff
The University of Nevada athletic department and Saint Mary's hospital kicked off a unique partnership April 15 when three Wolf Pack athletes spoke to a group of Sparks Middle School students.
"Chat with the Pack" is the first event of the new Outreach Program that will be held at the Nevada Bell Auditorium in the recently completed Legacy Hall.
The program aims to use the high-profile position of Wolf Pack athletes and the knowledge of Saint Mary's health professionals to impact the lives of children in a positive manner.
Pack running back Chris Lemon, women's basketball forward Tory Clark and track runner Natasha Williams spoke about setting and achieving goals to a crowd of nearly 100 middle-schoolers.
"It's so easy to quit," Clark said. "But it doesn't get any easier when you quit. Later in life when you face problems you quit instead of fighting through it.
"Once you quit, it gets easier to just quit."
Lemon offered some of his own inspirational stories. The 5-11, 200-pound junior told the Sparks youth not to get discouraged by their size.
"Imagine someone saying you can't do it," Lemon said. "My athletic director in middle school came up to me and told me it was impossible for me to go where I want to go.
"You just have to keep
Wolf Pack running back Chris Lemon speaks to Sparks middle-schoolers at Legacy Hall. Photo By Greg Foote |
Clark also encouraged the students to rely on themselves.
"Don't let anyone tell you, you can't do it," Clark said. "You can do anything you want. But it's not easy. I won't lie to you."
Williams, who runs the 200-meter dash, 400-meter relay and the 1,600-meter relay, also warned the students not to lose track of what they are going after.
"You have to do what you want to do," Williams said. "You can't let peer pressure and low self-esteem get in the way of your dreams."
Lemon also spoke on the subject of today's youth.
"Nowadays, it seems, kids aren't doing positive things," Lemon said. "Kids are getting involved in things like gangs, drugs and teenage pregnancy.
"Stay in school, be focused and don't let anyone bring you down and you can make it too."
The community outreach program is the first of its kind in the Reno area. The year-round project will offer weekly events at Legacy Hall that will discuss the dangers of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Other topics will include accident prevention, germ warfare, dental hygiene, nutrition and fitness and stress management.
Posted April 26, 1999
Copyright 1999 Nevada Outpost
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