Learn It, Live It, Give It

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CusaboScholars@CofC

Meet our Cusabo Scholars Mentors and Advocates

Fall 2017

Megan Fisher, CS Mentor

Hi! I am Megan Fisher, a junior at the College. I am currently studying Early Childhood Education and I hope to teach 1st or 2nd grade! I am from Summerville, South Carolina and I absolutely love living in South Carolina. In my free time, I love to read and learn! But, when I am not reading or learning, I enjoy cooking, doing yoga, playing with my dogs (they are my babies), and going surfing. Going to College of Charleston was the absolute best decision of my life and I am so excited to start this new adventure with Cusabo Scholars!

Maya Genwright, CS Mentor

Hey! I am Maya Genwright, and I am from Columbia, SC. I am a sophomore here at the college majoring in Elementary Education. I really enjoy working with kids, enjoy eating sweets, and having a good time.

Catherine Parker, CS Mentor

Hi, my name is Catherine Parker! I am from Sumter, South Carolina. I am currently a junior at the College of Charleston, and I am majoring in Early Childhood Education. I have such a passion for working with children, and cannot wait to someday teach them! I volunteered with Reading Partners beginning my freshman year, and ever since, I had an itch to work with children. I enjoy writing and reading in my free time, and love walking to The Battery and going to the beach!

Michael Simmons, CS Mentor

Hi! I am Michael Simmons, a Junior here at the College of Charleston, majoring in History. I am from Columbia, SC. I love playing video games whenever I can, and go on random walks downtown.

Monique Sparkam, CS Mentor

Hi, I'm Monique Sparkman. Currently, I'm a sophomore at the College. I'm from Columbia. I really enjoy music. I play the cello and I am in the orchestra at CofC. Also, I’m a math major.

Joycee Darby, Cusabo Scholars Site Coordinator

I am Joycee and I grew up in Charleston. Before Cusabo Scholars I lived in Chapel Hill, North Carolina where I received a Masters in Social Work. Youth development has been my focus and passion, and I am excited to be back in the Lowcountry working with the scholars on academic and personal enrichment.

Hanna Attafi, Mindfulness Mentor

Hi! I am a Charleston native, a graduate of the College and a former third grade teacher. I spend my time studying for graduate school, teaching and practicing yoga, and traveling to new places. I especially love to sing, cook and share meals with friends and family, and water my plant babies.

Margaret Hagood, Cusabo Scholars Program Director

I am a professor in Teacher Education at the College of Charleston. I teach people about all kinds of literacy--reading, writing, watching tv or seeing movies. I love running, yoga, learning with kids, cooking, and traveling around learning about others’ lives. I’m a mama to four children, and I’m with them and my husband, Robert, when I’m not at CofC. We have a sweet dog named Bhakti.

Robert Hagood, Cusabo Nation Lacrosse President & Founder

I am business person that loves a new idea and a way to look at things with a fresh perspective. I am often reminded that my ideas need work!  That’s ok because I am open, and besides, I think the best ideas come from a team! Cusabo Nation is more than just a lacrosse league in Charleston. We are place where teamwork helps all of us to become our best self: Learn It, Live It, Give It.

I love to be with Margaret, our four children, and dog!

Dan Russler, Cusabo Nation Lacrosse board member and coach

My family and I love sports. Our family plays them all but we are especially interested in lacrosse, basketball,  and football.I coach all three sports with the Charleston City Rec department youth leagues and I helped get Cusabo Nation Lacrosse started back in 2013. I have a real passion for supporting youth sports in the Greater Charleston and downtown area. All for one and one for all!

Eric Strickland, Cusabo Nation Lacrosse board member

I operate a commodities trading firm but if I had it to do over again I would be a teacher.  I particularly love math and am always looking for a new book recommendation. I have 3 kids, ages 9-13 and spend most of my free time with them and my wife Kim playing various sports.  We love to travel and explore new places, but are always happy to call Charleston home!

Cusabo Scholars After School Program

Our Vision:

Through relationship, trust, and commitment, together we can listen to each other to discover new opportunites in life.

Our Mission:

To support the urban children of Charleston off of the lacrosse (sports) field so that they can succeed in life: family, school, workplace and our community.

Cusabo Scholars, a subsidiary of CusaboNation Lacrosse, was developed in order to bring Cusabo Nation's mission to fruition by providing support to players off the field. During daily tutoring sessions, children receive a snack, mentoring in social/emotional development, tutoring (most specifically in literacy and math), and academic enrichment (such as field trips and speakers).

Background

Cusabo Nation Lacrosse (CNL), a 501c3 non-profit, began in 2013 with a mission to expand awareness and opportunities for all children to play youth lacrosse in the greater Charleston area. CNL has partnered with the City of Charleston Recreation Department to provide lacrosse offering from grade 1 through high school, especially those that live downtown. CNL’s vision is “Learn it, Live it, Give it” through teaching life skills and citizenry via the game of lacrosse, developing friendships across various identity markers, and becoming community leaders. CNL maintains four  lacrosse fields at 2045 Austin Avenue (property owned by the City of Charleston). CNL is a non-partisan organization, providing programming to eligible participants without respect to race, religion, gender, age, ability, sex, orientation, nationality, or color.

Cusabo Scholars, a subsidiary of CNL started in 2016, was developed to bring the organization’s vision to fruition by providing support to CNL players off the field. In weekly after-school settings, children received a snack, informal mentoring, and tutoring (most specifically in literacy and math). To date, Cusabo Scholars has served students ages 7-14 at James Simons, most of whom score in bottom 20% of their class in reading and/or math. However, given the demand for the program among players at various downtown schools, CNL is growing this offering to serve more players by partnering with the College of Charleston. CNL supports success of Cusabo Scholars off the lacrosse (sports) field in family, school, workplace, and our community.

  CusaboScholars@CofC, started in 2017, will serve up to 10 children in Fall 2017 and up to 20 children in Spring 2018, given the demand. Meeting Monday through Thursday from 3:30-5:30 in a room in the Education Center (25 St. Philip St) designated for its use, scholars will receive snack/meal provided by the Lowcountry Food Bank, tutoring and formalized mentorship, making connections between athletics, academics, citizenry, and service in community. This unique partnership pairs Cusabo Scholars with College of Charleston students, introducing them to college-life and larger communities, and providing opportunities for academic enrichment (field trips and speakers) via CofC campus.

  Goals of the program include:

1. Developing life and social/emotional well being through mindfulness reflective of culturally relevant practices that can be used in all contexts (classrooms, sports fields, community)

2. Providing academic support and enrichment

3. Promoting leadership development

4. Exposing mentees to college and career opportunities

5. Supporting service learning opportunities

  CusaboScholars@CofC are CNL players. Participation is voluntary and free to CNL families who express need. Families sign consent and participation agreements to work collaboratively for the benefit of the Cusabo Scholar across the established growth community whose members include Cusabo Scholars, mentors/tutors, families, teachers, and coaches. CusaboScholars@CofC site coordinator will maintain communication of Cusabo Scholars’ progress across the growth community. Cusabo Scholars@CofC will either walk or ride the CNL bus from a central location to CofC for programming and will be picked up by bus at 5:30 for athletic programming (either at the 2045 Austin Avenue fields or at Hampton Park).

To make a tax deductible donation in support of Cusabo Scholars, click here to [Donate Now] 

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