Students at Latonia Elementry School enjoyed a day filled with basketball and character-building exercises during the 3rd Annual CHAMP basketball camp earlier this summer.
CHAMP (Creating good character, Healthy relationships, Addressing social issues, making Meaningful Positive changes) camp was founded and started three years ago by Larry Owen, an NKU graduate who was looking to share his enthusiasm for sports with the community.
"I've always had a love for sports and believe that athletic programs can only be successful with the incorporation of sportsmanship," Owen said. "My wife and I saw a need to create a free basketball camp for students in Covington Schools where we could teach the importance of sportsmanship, good character, in addition to basketball fundamentals."
Owen's wife, who is also an NKU graduate and educator, has voluntarily written educational grants and obtained sponsorships for classroom and school-wide activities for Covington Independent Schools since 2000. With their joint efforts they were able to make this event free to its participants.
The camp was assisted by basketball players from Holmes High School, Two Rivers Middle School and Tar Hills AAU basketball. From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., the players collaborated together to teach team building techniques, promote sportsmanship and lead basketball drills to the Latonia students.
Thanks to a grant from The Greater Cincinnati Foundation and donations from the City of Covington, the Latonia Business Association, Kroger and Wal-Mart, T-shirts, a bag of school supplies, pizza gift certificates and awards were provided to all of the participants and student leaders during the awards luncheon. Covington Mayor Denny Bowman, and former NKU men’s basketball player David McFarland, who was the guest speaker, attended the luncheon.
During the luncheon, Bowman honored Two Rivers Middle School's leader Deja Turner and Holmes High School's leader Jibril McCaster with the camps' Outstanding Sportsmanship Award and the Key to the City of Covington for demonstrating good character, excellent sportsmanship, leadership, community service, commitment to academic excellence and for their continued involvement with the CHAMP camp since 2007.
Owen said the students learned a lot about basketball and how to better themselves as athletes all while having tons of fun so he considers the 3rd Annual CHAMP camp to be a success.
"The long term effects of this summer program will be to foster good attitudes, and behaviors, encourage students to display good sportsmanship, strong character, friendly qualities, eliminate social barriers, learn basketball skills and drills, as well has how to make responsible choices and decisions, and that's what matters most," Owen said.
Owen plans to conduct the camp again each year with hopes that it will grow and can obtain enough sponsorships to make the free camp available to hundreds of students throughout the entire school district.
