Michigan State University Athletics
MSU Athletics, Big Ten Conference Unveil B1G Build Initiative Project At Pattengill Biotechnical Magnet School
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Representatives from Michigan State Athletics, the Big Ten Conference, the College Football Playoff Foundation and Eckrich, were at Pattengill Biotechnical Magnet School on Friday, Oct. 9 to unveil the B1G Build Initiative Project. An unveiling of a transformed learning space, called the “Owl’s Nest” was a surprise for the students at Pattengill.
MSU Athletics, the Big Ten, CFP Foundation and Eckrich have partnered to make a lasting impact with the event, featuring a ribbon-cutting celebration, complete with remarks from community leaders and the announcement of a $50,000 investment to enhance learning spaces.
Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, the new space was unveiled for the students to tour through before the program which featured Big Ten Senior Vice President of Community & Impact, Omar Brown; Pattengill Biotechnical Magnet School Principal Jaimi Nedziwe; along with representatives from the College Football Playoff Foundation and Eckrich, presenting the “Owls' Nest,” before some Pattengill student representatives spoke.
Michigan State Football Director of Player Engagement and Pattengill alumnus, Kurt Richardson, along with Spartan men’s basketball student-athlete, Jeremy Fears Jr., also spoke at the unveiling ceremony. They were joined by Spartan student-athletes from the men’s basketball, women’s basketball, football, volleyball, women’s soccer and wrestling programs, in addition to the Spartan spirit squad, and the MSU mascot, Sparty, who was one of the biggest hits with the elementary students.
“It’s pretty cool. I used to be in this building, and I never thought I’d be working for Michigan State football,” Richardson said, who grew up in Lansing and attended Pattengill."Michigan State Football Director of Player Engagement and Pattengill alumnus, Kurt Richardson
“It’s pretty cool. I used to be in this building, and I never thought I’d be working for Michigan State football,” Richardson said, who grew up in Lansing and attended Pattengill.
Richardson was emotional during his speech, knowing and living first-hand the impact that this new opportunity has on the Pattengill students.
“I think it’s important,” Richardson said “I think environment speaks to these kids, and when you have a fresh, new environment, I think it gives fresh ideas. When people are telling you that you can be anything you want, and then see all these people rallying around them, how could they not be inspired by that?”
Richardson talked about his childhood and the impact that his second and third grade teachers had on him, and the impact they made still resonates with him today.
“As that kid I talked about, as a second grader, people remember second and third grade, so there will be one or two of these people that remember that the community has their back.”
Gallery: MSU, B1G Project At Pattengill School
Part of that extended community is the Big Ten Conference, who supports schools in each of their 18 conference cities.
“This is an opportunity for us as the Big Ten Conference to really reinforce our standing as the best conference across academics, athletics, and making a difference in the community,” Brown said. “Pattengill especially, it’s an opportunity to kick off a relationship between Michigan State and the school. You can think about everything from reading week, to mentorship, to even tickets to games. This allows Pattengill students to really embrace Michigan State, and for Michigan State to really embrace their community.”
Brown and his fellow Big Ten representatives, and the Pettengill students were treated to an overflowing dose of Green & White Spartan spirit.
“We have everything from the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year here to your number two in the nation women’s soccer student-athletes here, football, and wrestling. Just the representation of student-athletes that showed up today shows how ready Michigan State student-athletes are to support Pattengill,” Brown said.
“A lot of second graders and third graders who will be able to use this and for them to have this accessible for them is really great. I mean, it’s a great place to go when you can get out of class, whether it’s to work or play games. Who wouldn’t like that?”Spartan men’s basketball student-athlete, Jeremy Fears Jr.
As the closest in age of any of the visiting representatives to show up at the event, Fears related to this opportunity the Pattengill students now have.
“A lot of second graders and third graders who will be able to use this and for them to have this accessible for them is really great,” Fears said. “I mean, it’s a great place to go when you can get out of class, whether it’s to work or play games. Who wouldn’t like that?”
Fears and his MSU Athletics student-athletes are regulars at community service, enjoying the opportunity to make an impact in their community.
“I think all of our teams think about giving back and doing something,” Fears said. “It’s probably more between teams in terms of what they want to do and how they can give back. I think we all want to be active in the community, and it’s a matter for each team to figure out when it’s best for them to do something.”
While Richardson may have addressed the Pattengill students, his message impacted everyone in attendance, including Fears.
“Kurt has been here all of my four years and that can be a long time,” Fears said. “I remember seeing him my freshman year, but for a guy like him who’s from Lansing, homegrown and he helps to coordinate these things, it says a lot about him. In my interactions with him, he’s a really great guy.”
Fears and his fellow Spartan student-athletes had loads of fun before, during and after the event, posing for photos and signing several autographs with the students, filling faces both old and young full of smiles.
“It’s huge. A lot of other people made this happen, so I was kind of in the background, but I was really happy to be here and to be a part of this,” Fears said. “Getting the chance to talk to some of the kids and interact with them, that’s what it’s all about. To feel their energy and their vibe, it took me back to my days in elementary school, middle school, and remembering some of those amazing childhood memories that you don’t get back.”
After the program, the CFP Foundation presented Pattengill math teacher Katelyn Kersten with a $1,000 donation for her classroom resources as part of the Extra Yard for Teachers program.
East Lansing and Pattengill were the third of six stops across Big Ten campuses this fall.
Through the B1G Build initiative, the conference and its partners will create engaging, student-centered spaces designed to inspire learning, collaboration and creativity while strengthening the connection between Big Ten institutions and their local communities. The conference will work with all 18 member institutions to transform common areas at local elementary schools across the Big Ten footprint over the next three years.