Foundation Director issues challenge to local schools

I was on KTRS-AM on Wednesday morning with McGraw Milhaven on his show McGraw in the Morning. Milhaven and I discussed the St. Louis Sports Commission's Sportsmanship Scholarship and the general frustration I was feeling from segments of the St. Louis area. If you weren't up at 6:30 a.m. listening, here's the interview in its entirety. (email subscribers click here).



Where is my frustration coming from? Well, it comes from where personal struggle and professional success intersect. If you've read this blog for any length of time, you know I grew up receiving welfare and food stamps, attended St. Louis Public Schools through 8th grade and graduated from Ladue High School. You are also aware of my past as an educator and my current work at the Sports Commission. I'm asked quite often how did I make it when so many others I knew and grew up with did not.

My answer is always the same. Kids like me - and honestly kids everywhere - make it because of opportunities. Kids are smarter, stronger and more resourceful than we think. They just need opportunities. The Sportsmanship Scholarship represents an opportunity. Two-thirds or more of our scholarship applications come from private schools or what some may consider well-to-do public districts. The kids from those schools are great. Their parents and coaches are responsive and get things in on-time.

However, the number of applications from inner-city schools or what could be called disadvantaged districts is extremely low. That's not good...not good at all. While I cannot guarantee that a kid from the inner-city will win the Sportsmanship Scholarship if he or she applies, I can wholly guarantee one will not if they do not apply. We all know tons of good kids. We all know good kids who show great sportsmanship and character when they play their chosen sport.

Send me those applications. Tell me about those kids. Nine St. Louis area kids have received a total of $20,000 in the Sportsmanship Scholarship's four-year existence. One young man has graduated and eight others are well on their way. I am challenging every St. Louis area high school coach, parent, teacher and administrator to send me one kid.

Surely, among the thousands you teach, coach and raise, there is one worthy of the Sportsmanship Scholarship. Surely, one young person among you is deserving of this opportunity. Apathy and indifference are terrible burdens for a community to carry. Instead, let's rise to the occasion! The deadline to submit applications for the 2013 Sportsmanship Scholarship is Friday, June 14. The application can be downloaded by going to sportsmanship.org. If you have any questions, please email salexander@stlsports.org or call 314-345-5130.