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PITTSBURG —
Pittsburg area Big Brothers and Sisters and their little partners spent Saturday morning eating treats, playing games and winning prizes at an event just for them.
The inaugural Big Brothers Big Sisters Carnival on the Russ Hall lawn at Pittsburg State University was a success, said Crawford County Big Brothers Big Sisters director Emily Krysztof. Seven pairs and a family match attended the carnival, which was sponsored by the PSU Honors College. There was a penny pushing game, Frisbee golf, ladder ball, face painting, bowling and a bounce house. The kids also could throw darts at balloons for prizes and chow down on cotton candy.
“We’re really excited because the kids don’t usually have the opportunity to do something like this for free,” Krysztof said. “And because it’s just for Big Brothers Big Sisters, they don’t have to wait in line for the games and snacks.”
The Honors College has made community service its focus since music department chair Craig Fuchs became director in 2010. Honors College member Bailey Claypool, who was the lead organizer for the event, said the group wanted to focus on kids this year.
“We thought Big Brothers Big Sisters would be a good organization to do this for,” Claypool said. “We’re planning on hosting it each spring.”
Claypool said the group has learned what works and what doesn’t, and will use that knowledge when planning next year’s event. And even if there are new members who don’t know the ropes, Claypool said, someone always steps up.
“Honors College people are always willing to help,” Claypool said. “There are lots of people with different talents that can do different things.”
Fuchs said the reason he emphasizes community service is that he believes it is the duty of Honors College members, who are the university’s academic heavy-hitters, to put their talents to work in the community.
“They need to give back to those who are less fortunate than themselves,” Fuchs said. “They are required to do at least one service project, and they wanted to do this for Emily (herself a former Honors College member) and her kids.”
Fuchs said his students did an admirable job planning the event.
“This is pretty much what we expected,” he said. “The goal was to let the kids play as many games as they could and to give away as many prizes as they could. Anything we can do to help kids is a good thing.”
Pittsburg area Big Brothers and Sisters and their little partners spent Saturday morning eating treats, playing games and winning prizes at an event just for them.
The inaugural Big Brothers Big Sisters Carnival on the Russ Hall lawn at Pittsburg State University was a success, said Crawford County Big Brothers Big Sisters director Emily Krysztof. Seven pairs and a family match attended the carnival, which was sponsored by the PSU Honors College. There was a penny pushing game, Frisbee golf, ladder ball, face painting, bowling and a bounce house. The kids also could throw darts at balloons for prizes and chow down on cotton candy.
“We’re really excited because the kids don’t usually have the opportunity to do something like this for free,” Krysztof said. “And because it’s just for Big Brothers Big Sisters, they don’t have to wait in line for the games and snacks.”
The Honors College has made community service its focus since music department chair Craig Fuchs became director in 2010. Honors College member Bailey Claypool, who was the lead organizer for the event, said the group wanted to focus on kids this year.
“We thought Big Brothers Big Sisters would be a good organization to do this for,” Claypool said. “We’re planning on hosting it each spring.”
Claypool said the group has learned what works and what doesn’t, and will use that knowledge when planning next year’s event. And even if there are new members who don’t know the ropes, Claypool said, someone always steps up.
“Honors College people are always willing to help,” Claypool said. “There are lots of people with different talents that can do different things.”
Fuchs said the reason he emphasizes community service is that he believes it is the duty of Honors College members, who are the university’s academic heavy-hitters, to put their talents to work in the community.
“They need to give back to those who are less fortunate than themselves,” Fuchs said. “They are required to do at least one service project, and they wanted to do this for Emily (herself a former Honors College member) and her kids.”
Fuchs said his students did an admirable job planning the event.
“This is pretty much what we expected,” he said. “The goal was to let the kids play as many games as they could and to give away as many prizes as they could. Anything we can do to help kids is a good thing.”
Jitka Durman came to PSU from the Czech Republic to study. After she graduated she was offered a job at the university and decided to stay. A month ago, a friend convinced her to sign up for BBBS, and she was paired with 9-year-old Katie York.
“It’s really a neat program,” Durman said. “I’m glad I heard about it.”
Durman said she thinks it was a good idea to host an outdoor carnival for the kids.
“Just to get out and see her have fun is great,” Durman said. “It’s something to do other than go to the mall and other things they normally do. I think kids now don’t spend a lot of time outside, and it’s good to get out and run around.”
