TOWSON, Md. – Through the athletics department's Total Tiger Program, members of the Towson University men's basketball team hosted students from the Baltimore Middle Grades Partnership on Thursday, July 18.
 
Featuring the department's core values of trust, integrity, greatness, engagement, respect and student-first approach, this team-oriented and focused life skill program afforded the men's basketball team the opportunity to become stronger leaders on campus and in the community.
 
For 15 years, Middle Grades Partnership has been changing the trajectory of the lives of Baltimore middle school students. There are nine public and private school partnerships that provide exceptional programming intended to impede summer learning loss, balance enrichment with skill development and bring communities together to address silos of race, class, and opportunity.
 
The members of the basketball team answered questions, shared wisdom, provided a tour of the Towson athletic facilities and played games with middle school students from the Gilman School and Southwest Baltimore Charter School cohort of Middle Grades Partnership.
 
Understanding the significance of the opportunity to make an impact wasn't lost on Towson's student-athletes.
 
"It's always a blessing when I have the ability to interact with the youth and answer their questions," redshirt junior Juwan Gray said. "I enjoyed seeing their enthusiasm while we toured the Towson sports facilities. What I gained from spending time with them was that they are the future of Baltimore. So I try to give them lifestyle tips that will help them with their future."
 
Eve Blymiller, who serves as the site Director of the MGP and math instructor at Southwest Baltimore Charter School, was happy for the opportunity her students had in understanding the process and responsibility of being a college student-athlete.
 
"This was a great experience," Blymiller said. "It not only showed the Gilman School students but also my public school students at Southwest what college life looks like. Sometimes it's such a big idea and not a reality for many of our students. Being able to get them in this space and being around student-athletes to have conversations and ask questions about their daily life puts different things in perspective.
 
"I have a lot of boys and girls that always want to be track stars or play in the NFL or NBA, this experience today shows the students that there are steps along the way. The students being able to hear about how important education is throughout the journey just solidifies everything in what we do at MGP."
 
Towson Community Partner Coordinator Bria Bennett helped facilitate the visit.
 
"It's always an impactful experience whenever our student-athletes can interact with young students and expose them to Towson University," Bennett said. "They are our future. We're fortunate to have been able to join forces with a great organization like the Middle Grades Partnership. It's great anytime we can have members of the community visit our campus."