Two-time Olympic bobsled medalist Elana Meyers paid a special visit to Northwood Academy Charter School (4521 Castor Avenue) on May 20th, delivering a speech to the K-8 students about setting goals, dreaming big and persevering in the face of setbacks. Northwood was one of two schools in the nation to win a school visit from an Olympic athlete through Classroom Champions, a program that connects athlete mentors with students at high-need schools.
Elena Myers and Northwood Students
Northwood, the only school in Pennsylvania currently participating in Classroom Champions, won the contest by submitting a video that detailed how students were cheering on Team USA in Sochi. Meyers is an athlete mentor with Classroom Champions and has been working with Miss Cappuccino’s fifth grade class at Northwood since September 2013.
Classroom Champions is aimed at providing students with accessible, long-term role models who motivate and educate them on topics like goal-setting, fair play and healthy habits. At the same time, it’s geared towards increasing digital literacy. The students communicate with their athlete mentor each month via video messages and real-time video conferencing.
About Classroom Champions:
Classroom Champions connects top performing athletes with students at high-need schools. By using video lessons and live video chats, athlete mentors motivate students to recognize their potential, set goals and dream big, while educating them in the practical use of communications technology. For more information, visit www.classroomchampions.org.
