SEC Announces Kid's College Education Initiative

Birmingham, Ala. -- Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive announced a new SEC Education Initiative during the opening day of Kickoff 2002, the league's annual Football Media Days.

This program, scheduled for launch in September, will utilize the platform of intercollegiate athletics to provide teachers with relevant resources they can use to educate and prepare children for life. The SEC will place educational software in every elementary school and public library across the nine-state SEC region, representing nearly 15,000 different outlets.

"The SEC member institutions recognize the responsibility and opportunity teachers have to affect the future of our children, " Slive said. "Our goal is to make a significant contribution across the southeast by assisting teachers who are charged with the task of providing a solid educational foundation for their students. Not only does this software feature the core educational essentials, it also addresses character and sportsmanship."

This educational CD-ROM was specifically designed by Kid's College, Inc., for ages 4-11. The program captivates and motivates children using their favorite sports with SEC teams and famous mascots to reinforce skills taught in the classroom. Each CD-ROM will have a site-wide license, which allows the software to be loaded on every computer in the school or library.

"Having met with several educational departments within the SEC, I have been pleased with the positive response." Brian Shulman, CEO of Kid's College, said. "Throughout the development of the software, we've received valuable assistance and insight from the educational community. It has been very apparent that teachers and students alike are excited about utilizing SEC athletics and mascots for instructional purposes."

The educational curriculum correlates to national standards, is age appropriate and focuses on language arts, math, reading and character. The software enables children to enroll, take classes and earn diplomas upon the successful completion of the material.

With the release of the Education Initiative, the SEC will become the first conference in the country to introduce a program of this kind.

For more information, visit www.SECsports.com or www.Kids-College.com.

• The SEC honors two student-athletes each year with a $5,000 scholarship for outstanding community service. Last year, Alabama gymnast Andree' Pickens and Auburn swimmer Eric vanGoethem won the award.

• The SEC selects a Good Works Team in football, men's and women's basketball, and a men's and women's at-large team. The teams are composed of student-athletes from each school who have shown a commitment to community service.

• The 12 member institutions provide nearly $45 million in scholarships for more than 3,500 student-athletes each year.

• The SEC was the first conference in the nation to assemble a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Two representatives from each SEC school are selected to serve on the committee, which meets twice a year to discuss issues of concern to the student-athlete.

• The SEC enjoys a partnership with nine Special Olympics state organizations in the SEC region. The partnership gives SEC student-athletes additional rewarding opportunities to help others in their communities.

• The SEC and its corporate partners hosts youth clinics at several conference championships, including the football championship game, men's and women's basketball tournaments and the baseball tournament. These clinics provided children from host cities the opportunity to receive instruction from SEC and other area coaches.

The most prestigious individual honor given to an SEC student-athlete is the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award. In 2001-2002, Arkansas softball player Tiffany Woolley and South Carolina baseball player Trey Dyson earned this honor.