Tudor Fieldhouse was packed with energy and excitement Dec. 13 as Rice Athletics and the Rice University School Mathematics Project (RUSMP) hosted Houston-area students for the 10th annual School House Mania.
The School House Mania event combines education with athletics as Rice invites local elementary school students from around the Houston area to campus for a day of educational programming and basketball. This year’s event included various educational sessions before a Rice men’s basketball matchup against the University of the Incarnate Word, which the Owls won 80-57.
“It’s truly life-changing for these kids,” said Tanner Gardner, senior associate athletic director and chief operating officer of Rice Athletics. “I would assume that for a majority of these kids, they’ve never been to a college campus before. So to be able to experience the best of both of what Rice has to offer on a day like this, and it’s the end of semester, so it’s kind of a reward for them as well.
“It’s an experience that they’ll remember forever.”
A lot of the student attendees have anticipated this event for some time, said Carolyn White, director of mathematics programs for RUSMP.
“The kids have been waiting for this to happen,” White said. “They can’t scream like this when they’re in school.
“But it’s really beneficial that they come on a college campus. A lot of these kids wouldn’t get this opportunity if it wasn’t for this basketball game. It lets them know that after they finish their schooling, there is a next level.”
At halftime, a Rice group called Fun with Chemistry conducted two science experiments on court for the students’ viewing.
“We’re working with local Houston ISD students to help them envision themselves as scientists,” faculty organizer Kasey Yearty said.
“We do outreach shows in the community to get students excited about science,” said Madeline Belknap, junior biochemistry student and student assistant manager of Fun with Chemistry. “We just want them to see themselves as chemists and to be able to see that chemistry isn’t scary. It doesn’t have to be super hard. It can be something that everyone can do and everyone can get excited about.”
