EDUCATION PROFESSORS FROM UH HELP YOUTH
TO PLAY BALL
Sponsorship of Teams and Players Creates Community in Neartown
(HOUSTON, March 1, 2005)— When players from the Neartown
Little League step up to the plate this season their fans will be
more than moms and dads. They will be professors and staff from
the University of Houston College of Education who, for the third
year, are sponsoring a team.
“The College of Education has really supported the League,”
said Will Weber, a professor in the college’s Curriculum and
Instruction department, league president and umpire when called
upon.
It casually started three years ago, when Weber solicited donations
from a few colleagues so that
low-income youth could afford uniforms and equipment. He and his
son were already involved in the league. The response provided enough
funds for the College to adopt two teams and also provide scholarships
for a few players. A tradition was started.
“Last year, faculty and staff sponsored two teams—the
Diamondbacks and the Yankees—and provided scholarships for
five players,” said Weber. “This year we’ve raised
enough funds to sponsor two teams once again, and provide at least
seven scholarships.”
Games are played at Ervan Chew Park on Dunlavy near the Southwest
Freeway. Opening day, planned for March 12, will offer hometown
fanfare complete with a parade of teams, fire trucks, police cars
and music. Weber says it is not unusual for city and county dignitaries
to be among the ranks of fans giving a cheer.
“The parade forms at the Fiesta store on Dunlavy near Alabama
and then proceeds to the park,” said Weber. “I don’t
know who enjoys it more, the kids, the parents or people who live
in the neighborhood.”
Sue Lovell, president of the Friends of Ervan Chew Park, credits
Neartown Little League and the College of Education with rejuvenating
the area that used to be a haven for drug dealers and prostitutes.
In fact, the relationship between the College of Education and Neartown
Little League has spawned many community projects with UH. Graduate
students from the College of Architecture’s Design/Build program
built a “store and score” facility at the field. A UH
fraternity, Kappa Delta Pi, is collecting books to be distributed
to the Neartown players. The Conrad Hilton Foundation—a major
supporter of the UH Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management—is
providing funds to build a second baseball field in the Neartown
area. A UH art professor, Rex Koontz, even manages one of the teams.
“With this kind of support we have been able to fence the
outfield, build a batting cage, install a scoreboard and erect a
flagpole,” said Weber. “Our field is becoming a pretty
nice place to play baseball, and it’s great to see these kids
enjoy a great sport and have fun with their families.”
For more information about the UH College of Education, please
visit www.coe.uh.edu
About the University of Houston
The University of Houston, Texas’ premier metropolitan research
and teaching institution, is home to more than 40 research centers
and institutes and sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate,
civic and governmental entities. UH, the most diverse research university
in the country, stands at the forefront of education, research and
service with more than 35,000 students.
For more information about UH visit the universitys Newsroom at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.
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