On Saturday, the St. Thomas Aquinas
College athletic department hosted its annual Take a Kid to the
Game Day. Children from the local community had the
opportunity to watch the Spartans compete against the Concordia
College Clippers in two action-packed basketball games. The
children were invited to experience the collegiate game day
atmosphere firsthand. They filled the stands providing
encouragement for the athletes while some even had the opportunity
to show their skills in numerous half time competitions.
Every child in attendance received a STAC basketball poster that
featured the men's and women's teams. Following the games,
the fans were able to meet their favorite players and have their
posters signed during autograph sessions. With over sixty
young participants, the event provided an opportunity for the STAC
student-athletes to speak to their young fans. They
helped to demonstrate that their hard work in the classroom and on
the court has created many opportunities in their lives. 
Take a Kid to the Game Day is program that was started by the NCAA and is now in its fourteenth year. The project is a grass roots initiative that attracts the nation's youth and encourages adults to take kids to area college basketball games. With the NCAA's support, over 700 TAKG games will be hosted across the nation, which will provide thousands of youngsters the opportunity to experience college basketball.