Sam McConnell is a student at Sinclair’s Englewood Learning Center. In hopes of covering the satellite campuses better, the Clarion is looking for students and faculty from the branches willing to submit articles and columns about the issues and day-to-day life on their respective campuses. Anyone interested should contact Clarion editor Rusty Pate at (937) 512-2958.
The sound of a repetitively bouncing basketball echoes through the hallway as students cheer for their classmates who score another astonishing basket from beyond the three-point line. This vivacious clatter isn’t coming from the Tartan Pride court in Building 8, but from the Englewood Learning Center’s monthly intramural basketball showdown.
Since last December, the Englewood Learning Center (ELC) and Huber Heights Learning Center (HHLC) have met at their adjoining YMCA’s to play each other in a friendly, yet highly competitive game of basketball. Tyrone Curtis, an academic advisor at the ELC, and Dawayne Kirkman, the ELC manager, spearheads the games. Curtis says the inspiration for the game goes beyond having fun on the court. “Basketball is my game,” says Curtis. “We wanted to have fun but also make it a leadership activity. There are students collaborating from different learning centers.”
Curtis isn’t just any regular referee, he adds his own touch at half time with a segment he calls “Coach’s Corner”.
“It’s about a 10-15 minute leadership activity,” says Curtis. “Each week I highlight a way the players can become better students.”
Coach’s Corner has featured topics such as goal setting, first things first (priority setting), and being proactive in helping others. Kirkman says the experience has been “awesome” for all involved.
“It shows the fellowship between the learning centers,” says Kirkwood. “The students are really learning from it.”
As for which center has the better ballers, that’s up in the air. The ELC and HHLC have won about the same amount of games, so they’re still debating. The games are held on Fridays from 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. and the next scheduled game is March 13. It’s free to play and all Sinclair students are invited to join in on the fun. For questions about participation, call the ELC at 937-836-8750.
“Huber better bring it” Kirkman says.
A representative from HHLC’s team could not be reached for comment.