Our Elevate After School Program maximizes the time available to student-athletes between the end of the school day and the start of practice. It provides a stable environment and support resources to keep them safe and focused on their academics. We assign two academic tutors to each school to assist with homework, subject areas of struggle, and exam preparation. This program ensures that student-athletes remain on a positive academic track, making them eligible to participate throughout the year and thrive both on and off the field.

In our targeted schools, student-athletes often face a difficult choice after school. They must decide whether to wait in long lines for the free meal provided by the school, which may not be enough, or seek academic help from teachers. As the school meal is often the last meal some student-athletes have access to for the day, they prioritize it over academics. To eliminate this tough decision, we provide a nutritious meal during each session, incentivizing punctuality, preparedness, and engagement. This ensures that every student-athlete receives proper nutrition to fuel their academic and athletic performance.

Our program leverages mentoring, college access, and career planning to support the student-athletes we serve. We collaborate with Lansing-based organizations like the Capital Area College Access Network and the MSUFCU to provide academic guidance, SAT prep, professional development, community outreach, and financial literacy. Throughout the year, our student-athletes are guided to access and utilize these resources. As a reward for positive progression towards their goals, all rising seniors from each school have the opportunity to participate in our Career Immersion Day, in partnership with local businesses in the Lansing area.