Fifth Graders Will Send Sparks Flying at Buffalo State

Two hundred fifth-graders will converge on Coyer Field (rain site: Houston Gym) at Buffalo State on Thursday, June 22, for the culminating event of a months-long program to increase their physical fitness. 

The Center for Urban and Rural Education (CEURE) at Buffalo State agreed to be a lead partner for the Buffalo Public Schools (BPS) “Strong Community Schools Initiative.” The two participating schools, West Hertel School 94 and Herman Badillo Bilingual Academy School 76, are in the BPS West Zone and part of the West Side Promise Neighborhood.

“We will bring all 200 students to campus where they will run through an obstacle course, receive a T-shirt from our Athletic Department, and a certificate of participation,” said John Siskar, director of CEURE.

The program launched in November 2016 as part of a national initiative introduced by UnitedHealthcare and Hasbro to “encourage young people to be more active.” By using NERF ENERGY game kits, which included a tracker, the students each averaged 150,000 and 200,000 “sparks.” Sparks are equivalent to steps on a Fitbit. A conservative estimate of the total for all the children is well over 22 million Sparks. Representatives from UnitedHealthcare and Hasbro will be on hand to congratulate the students.

Buffalo State student-athletes have worked with the fifth graders since the program began. “We’re looking forward to hosting this event,” said Siskar, “and we’re honored for the opportunity to play a role in facilitating this program.”