The WIN (Winning In Numbers) Program and Associated Students hosted their annual athletic fair on Thursday, May 21 with carnival games, food and music for all the Mt. SAC sports programs.
The athletic fair is an annual event hosted by the WIN program and Associated Students, as a way to celebrate the community and athletes. This event offered a way for athletes to have fun and enjoy themselves by having different activities like tug of war, balloon toss and dodgeball where student athletes compete against each other.
The event also had different carnival games for participants to play with a total of 13 games, such as tic-tac-toe, balloon pop and Connect Four. They also served tacos, chips, snow cones and popcorn with them also serving refreshments like soda and water.
Erica Ledezma, the WIN Program coordinator said this event has been in the works since January.
“This event is really to bring school spirit on campus and to bring the community together,” Ledezma said. “Sometimes athletics is separated, especially the facilities being across campus.”
The WIN Program provides an environment in which student athletes can pursue academic success. This program offers many opportunities for athletic students such as free tutoring services, computer access and essential employment skills.
The program’s goal for the student-athletes is to provide them with staff and peer support. They also offer essential employment skills with some of these skills being resume building, email proficiency and time management. These skills the WIN program provides are included for students in need of assistance when applying for work.
Abigail Benavide, a women’s soccer player, explained how the event was a lively place to be and fun to bond with her teammates.
“I liked the camaraderie with my teammates,” Benavides said. “It’s just been a very lively place to be with and just have an experience and bonding with them.”
Many student athletes enjoyed being surrounded by the other teams on campus and were able to be around their athletic community.
Candance Castro, WIN Program Project Expert said the athletic community at Mt. SAC having events that let them be students first, helps to promote the balance they need to be successful. Like many other students, Castro mentions how important it is for students to have a mental health break after their seasons finish and before finals start.
“They get to play normally when they play their sport at practice; they’re only around their sport,” Castro said. “At the WIN program they are intermingling between but here it brings all of them together. We had softball versus volleyball, football versus track, and so it just gets the community more and more intertwined with each other and able to build friendships upon building memories as well.”
The WIN Program facility for Mt. SAC student-athletes is located in building 45 room 1461. The next athletic event is the Mt. SAC football spring game on Thursday, May 28 at 5:00 p.m. at Flex Field. For more information on upcoming events visit the Mt. SAC athletics website.
