African American Read-In Academic All-Stars Take Over the Target Center
MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota Lynx players Chloe Kerr and Tamara Bowie
could not stop smiling after the Lynx finished off the Connecticut Sun,
68-57, on Thursday, May 1. That's because the center from USC and guard
from Ball State met with and gladly took pictures with the "cutest"
group of students they had ever seen - and smartest group of students at
that. The Minnesota Lynx, partnering with the African American
Read-In at the University of Minnesota, hosted a group of 135 Academic
All-Stars from Seed Academy and Harvest Preparatory School, located in
North Minneapolis. This group of uniformed students, ranging from third
grade through sixth grade, had received a ticket to the game for
exceeding their academic goals and reaching the "A" honor roll in more
than two semesters this year. For their hard work, the students not only
came to the game to cheer on the Lynx, but they were also a part of a
post-game chat led by Kerr and Bowie. They also had their picture taken
at half court with the Lynx players, topping off an event that was well
earned by the students.
Seed
Academy and Harvest Preparatory was founded in 1985 by Eric Mahmoud and his
wife, Dr. Ella Mahmoud. Currently, the schools serve over 400 students in
preschool through sixth grade. Widely regarded as the most effective school
in educating African American children in Minnesota, Harvest Preparatory
received charter school status in 1998, allowing it to serve more students
from the poorest neighborhoods in Minneapolis.
A special thanks goes out to the African American Read-In for funding this event for these special young students.