Houston Rockets Select 2 Klein ISD Students for Nike Game Growers Program
Two Wunderlich Intermediate eighth-graders, Jayla Celestine and Paige Carter, were handpicked out of thousands of girls in the Greater Houston Area by Nike and the Houston Rockets to take part in the Game Growers Program.
“We started pitching ideas back and forth but the idea that we chose is to have more female sports mentors,” Jayla said. “The mentors will be a support system for girls in sports to teach and encourage them, no matter what sport they choose to play.”
By the time girls reach eighth grade, they’re 50 percent more likely to drop out of sports than boys. That’s exactly why Nike, the NBA, and the WNBA teamed up to create Nike Game Growers in order to get girls to play and love sports again.
As volleyball players, Jayla and Paige know firsthand the benefit to the body and brain that sports can have on female students.
“Sports are good for girls because they can put their energy in a productive place,” Paige said. “They can also lead to scholarships down the road and an overall bright future.”
Wunderlich Physical Education teacher, Coach Karissa Hubbard, was teary-eyed when she received the news that the girls were chosen.
“Since Jayla and Paige were on my volleyball team this year, I got to really know them and bond with them,” Coach Hubbard said. “I always tell my players that I not only want them to be great athletes but great citizens and great people so to see them step out and impact the world like this is huge for me as a coach.”
The girls were presented with their official Game Growers swag and plane tickets to travel to the Nike World Headquarters during a surprise presentation at Wunderlich. The Houston Rockets Sonic Boom Drumline, Clutch City Dancers, and Clutch himself even joined to make this a memorable day!
“It’s really cool and refreshing to be here in Klein ISD,” Sr. Event Coordinator and Emcee for the Houston Rockets Chrislord Templonuevo said. “And then to present an amazing award that these two young ladies truly earned in front of their own community and peers is even better.”
Jayla and Paige will travel to the Nike World Headquarters in January 2020 to attend the Game Growers Training Camp, where they will work with the Houston Rockets to create a Game Plan for their idea. Selected Game Growers Game Plans will be shared during the Game Growers Showcase at the 2020 WNBA Draft.
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Klein ISD is a school district in Klein, Texas, located in northwestern Harris County. The district spans approximately 88 square miles and serves more than 53,000 students in 33 elementary schools, 10 intermediate campuses, one high school program of choice, and 5 high schools.
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