Advancing the synergistic authenticity of community service within education-based athletics: The Inaugural CPS All-Star Basketball Showcase Event.

“Synergy (noun):?the combined power of a group of things when they are working together that is greater than the total power achieved by each working separately.?-Cambridge Dictionary.

A synergistic relationship occurs when two or more people (or organizations) create a greater contribution together than they would independently. Synergistic relationships are based on co-creating mutually beneficial outcomes.?In the end analysis, they understand that efficient planning is crucial in co-creating greater outcomes together.

Serving as an Associate Professor in the Sport Administration at the University of Cincinnati; the mission of our Sport Administration Program is all about “preparing students to be leaders in the sport industry through experience-based learning, best-practice approaches and industry collaborations.”?

The mission of the University of Cincinnati involves the following:

“The University of Cincinnati serves the people of Ohio, the nation, and the world as a premier, public, urban research university dedicated to undergraduate, graduate, and professional education, experience-based learning, and research.?We are committed to excellence and diversity in our students, faculty, staff, and all of our activities. We provide an inclusive environment where innovation and freedom of intellectual inquiry flourish.?Through scholarship, service, partnerships, and leadership, we create opportunity, develop educated and engaged citizens, enhance the economy and enrich our University, city, state and global community.”

The holistic mission of the Cincinnati Public Schools are: “We educate all students with rigor and care in a culture of excellence to develop engaged citizens who are prepared for life.”

The mission of Project Connect is to “remove educational barriers for children and youth experiencing homelessness by providing students with immediate access to the free, appropriate public education to which they are entitled.”

Reflecting on the lessons learned in 2020, we all pivoted our teaching and learning methods in addition to the cancellation of many meritorious events.??One event in particular, which, in my estimation, one of the most important initiatives I’ve been associated with has been with the planning of the CPS All-Star Showcase Basketball Event hosted by the University of Cincinnati at Fifth Third Arena.?On Saturday March 26th, 2022 will be the launch of this inaugural and annual event. There will be a boys and girls 3-point shooting contest, skills competition, slam dunk contest and boys and girls all star games that has representation from each and every school within the Cincinnati Public Schools. More importantly, this event will provide participants with a meaningful experience, and the opportunity to support a charitable cause like Project Connect is a critical component of this experience.?Moreover, this opportunity will also incorporate many of my University of Cincinnati Sport Administration students being involved in the logistics of ticket selling, fundraising relative to corporate sponsorships and donations in addition to event operations.?Moreover, this event will support and leverage the “3-E’s” known as Education, Employment and Enlistment.?During this All-Star Basketball Event, students from the Cincinnati Public Schools in attendance at Fifth Third Arena will have the opportunity to speak first hand with recruiters from our own University recruiters as well as from other local colleges, the ability to speak with job recruiters as well as recruiters from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.

While this event has the potential to raise a considerable amount of money, it also requires pre-planning, preparation and organization.?It’s been a distinct honor of mine to work with one of my former students, Ricky Miller , who now serves as the Assistant District Director of Athletics with the Cincinnati Public Schools.?Moreover, working with my amazing colleagues such as Teneisha Dyer, Director of Student Recruitment and Marketing, Laura Dell, Associate Dean for the College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services and Information Technology, Peyton Stensland from the UC Sport Administration Program, Andre Seoldo, Associate Athletic Director for Facilities and Operations, Rebeka Beach, Program Manager of Project Connect with the Cincinnati Public Schools as well as Rhonda Lewis, Program Enrichment & Development Specialist at Cincinnati Public Schools for Project Connect?just to name a few has also been a great honor.

I personally have learned a lot about synergy when planning this event with my colleagues and as such, in the end analysis, “authenticity in service” is where I have learned the most.

Just as in athletics, life is more than being competitive all the time and ascribing to the “win at all costs” mindset alone. Although it is always nice to win, that is not what life is about. Life is about giving back and being appreciative for what you have. A lot of people do not have the same opportunities as others, so it is always important to be appreciative for what you have and not to take it for granted. ?As a professor who previously worked in education-based athletics for over a decade, I know first-hand that working within an education-based sport organization, interscholastic athletic director’s need to educate their coaches that it is important to get involved with your community and give back as much as possible because they (the community) are going to be the one's supporting you on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons.?It is this type of authentic involvement and community outreach that is a key learning outcome I want my Sport Administration students to acquire and takeaway.

In essence, for sport administrators, a key component of educational based athletics is not only teaching student athlete’s life skills, but also involves teaching them about community service.?Moreover and more importantly, it’s not just paying lip-service to it, but rather demonstrating how athletics can serve as the platform for generating revenue for outstanding initiatives and as such, this aspect of service must be authentic and be observed by the community at large.

As a result, there are critics who say that school-sponsored sports and activities work against the educational mission of schools. In reality, school-sponsored sports and activities incorporate the best of both worlds. It involves “synergy” stated at the outset.?Surveys have shown that those students involved in sports or other activity programs have higher grade-point averages, lower dropout rates and a better chance for successful careers than those not involved in these programs. Not only are athletics/activities participants completing their academic coursework at a higher rate than non-participants, they are learning vital lessons that are not available through the classroom, but rather through their participation in school activity programs and by doing so, they are realizing the “missions” set forth by their educational institutions as well as a synergistic authenticity in service to their communities.

David J. Kelley Ph.D., CAA is an Associate Professor and online Master of Science of Sport Administration (MSSA) Program Coordinator at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Kelley teaches Sport Finance and Development and Economics of Sport at the undergraduate level and Revenue Generation in Athletics and Athletic Budgeting and Finance at the graduate level.?He has published numerous articles on sport fundraising, sponsorships and curriculum development. In April 2012, Dr. Kelley published Sports Fundraising: Dynamic Methods for Schools, Universities and Youth Sport Organizations by Routledge Publishing, Inc.