While high school basketball teams will be shooting for the championship trophy at the 2007 McDonald’s Texas Invitational Basketball Tournament Nov. 15-17, they will also be playing for the education of Pasadena ISD students.

In its fifth year, the tournament has grown to be one of the premier high school basketball tournaments in the state featuring top ranked teams in a 48-team boys’ bracket and 32-team girls’ division. But more importantly, the tournament serves as the Pasadena ISD Education Foundation’s primary fundraiser, and the state and nationally ranked basketball talent has helped draw in $160,000 for the foundation, which supports students by providing grants to teachers for innovative educational programs. This year’s tournament holds a goal of $100,000.

“The proceeds given to the foundation by this tournament are far reaching into classroom projects, student activities and even after-school programs,” said Cindy Parmer, Pasadena ISD’s director of school and community relations and the education foundation. “These funds provide opportunities for students to learn in unique and innovative ways that would otherwise not be afforded through regular school budget.”

Grant makes biodiesel project reality for Dobie students

Twice a year, foundation board members surprise winning campuses with grants up to $5,000 through the foundation’s Dream Makers event giving Pasadena ISD students competing in the tournament the opportunity to see the results of their own efforts. In last year’s Dream Makers events, Dobie High School received a $5,000 grant for the school’s “Pasadena Biofuels Project: Energy, Conservation and the Environment.”

“The goal of this project is to teach students about alternative energy sources using biodiesel as the example,” said Dobie’s AP chemistry teacher and project coordinator Louis Parlangeli. “The students will learn about the chemistry and engineering involved in producing biodiesel fuel. The fuel will be used to run either a diesel powered school bus or automobile. We’re grateful for the funds, and we wouldn’t have been able to get this project off the ground without the initial support from the foundation.”

The $5,000 is being used to purchase materials and equipment needed for the project. Parlangeli said the biofuels project will hopefully increase students’ general interest in science, technology and engineering through the cross-curricular integration of topics.

The school cafeteria’s frying oil and grease is being used as part of the feed stock for producing usable biodiesel, showing students waste products can be made into useful byproducts. Students will make soap bars in the shape of Texas from the glycerin produced from the process. Fragranced candles will also be made by students through the project, as well as generating the operation of one to several diesel cars solely on the biodiesel made in the school’s labs.

“The students have become very involved in the materials testing phase as well as the small scale trial tests for turning the waste vegetable oil into biodiesel fuel,” said Parlangeli. “We intend to incorporate the production of glycerin soap from the glycerin byproduct and eventually extract our own fragrances from plants to put in the soap. Students from the agriculture and horticulture classes are already growing plants in the greenhouse for this purpose.”

Parlangeli also said the project’s plan is to power the school’s science bioreserve and project activities from off-the-grid energy sources including solar, biofuels and a wind generator. Students also plan to make a portable biodiesel plant on a trailer that can be transported around the district so students can demonstrate the project and how the process works.

“This wonderful project wouldn’t be possible for our students and community without the funds the basketball tournament provides for our education foundation,” Parlangeli said. “Besides providing entertainment, the money raised for the foundation provides students and teachers with the opportunity to broaden their educational experiences beyond what is done in the classroom. Programs such as this one provide the rigor and relevance we wish to provide in an interesting, real-life situation.”

Children with disabilities become ‘Olympians’ through funding

Last year, funds from the tournament and foundation also helped the district’s Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities (PPCD) implement a districtwide Special Olympics Young Athletes Program with a $5,000 grant.

The goal of the program is to initiate innovative sports play for children with disabilities ages three through seven and is designed to introduce them to the world of sports. The program addresses two specific levels of play. Level one includes physical activities focused on developing fundamental motor tracking and eye-hand coordination play, and level two concentrates on using these skills through a sports skills activity program and developing skills consistent with sports play. The program is implemented in all 10 PPCD classes districtwide.

“The Young Athletes program’s goal is for students with disabilities to improve physically, cognitively and socially through play,” said Pasadena High School’s special education peer facilitator and project coordinator Delores Whiteside. “The funds raised from the tournament help make innovative and worthwhile programs such as this one possible.”

Pasadena Memorial High School’s boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball teams will be competing in this year’s tournament and the boys’ team claimed the consolation trophy in the boys’ bronze division in last year’s tournament. The girls’ varsity basketball coach Barbara Leon said this program is a great opportunity for the PPCD students.

“As a coach, I know the Special Olympics will benefit and reward all involved,” Leon said. “I have worked many Special Olympic events in past years, and there is nothing more rewarding than to watch the Special Olympians compete. No one demonstrates desire, sportsmanship, heart and teamwork more than our Special Olympians.”

The Special Olympics staff provided training to teachers and paraprofessionals on how to implement the program. School personnel were provided with a Young Athletes Kit to teach the sports skills in the motor lab and in the classroom setting.

Much like the tournament serves as a day for high school basketball players to show their talent, the Future Stars Sports Field Day held in May was an opportunity for the PPCD students to showcase their individual skills and all they had learned through the Young Athletes program.

Leon said Pasadena ISD basketball players can serve as role models for the PPCD students by participating in events, teaching the game of basketball, inviting the kids to their basketball games and being around to assist in their development.

“High school athletics and Special Olympics have the same philosophy for our athletes—grow mentally, socially and spiritually,” Leon said. “We teach them all to exhibit courage, enthusiasm and enjoy the rewards of the many friendships that will be made along this wonderful journey.”

Memorial senior and basketball player Elizabeth “Smiley” Perez played in last year’s tournament and will play again this year, and she said she and her team members have a lot to offer the PPCD kids and that they can all learn from each other.

“My advice to young students with disabilities would be to always have heart and pride in whatever it may be that you’re doing, and when the odds are against you, continue to give it your all and never give up,” she said.

Perez also said she strongly encourages her community to come out and support Pasadena ISD teams during the tournament.

“Now that I have learned that this tournament is so much more than basketball games and competition, I believe everyone should come out and be part of such an important event that gives back to its community in the way that it does,” Perez said. “I think it’s absolutely great the tournament helps fund programs such as this one, and I feel honored to be a part of it.”

Leon said she also encourages the community to join in the fun of the tournament and support local teams because the basketball programs work hard to represent Pasadena ISD and the community with pride and class.

“The tournament is all about teamwork, commitment and the generosity of all,” she said. “It’s about hard working athletes competing at their highest level, demonstrating pride for their schools and making lifelong memories. Some teams will come out on top, and others will fall early, but it’s the effort put forth along this journey that is so important—not so much the destination. This is the same concept we want our Special Olympians to develop and take with them the rest of their lives.”