Pre-game for a college education

COSTA MESA — About 20 children from Santa Ana were treated to a baseball game and burgers Saturday afternoon to give them a glimpse into Vanguard University athletics and the department’s values.

What started last year as a fundraiser for the university’s athletic department has turned into a way for the school to show off its campus to young people in the hopes they’d be inspired to pursue a higher education there.

Partnering with Outback Steakhouse, athletic promotions director Sara McLain invited the kids and their tutors from the Mimie Street Learning Center in Santa Ana as part of the university’s Champion of Character Program to the game and to hear five student athletes speak about their core values — respect, responsibility, servant leadership and sportsmanship.

Corona del Mar resident and learning center tutor Cindy Ludington and her daughter Kimberly Henderson, a Vanguard student, came to cheer on the team on the field and their team of students. “It makes college seem fun and reachable instead of a burden or a scary thing,” Henderson said.

Vanguard Athletic Director Bob Wilson said he just wants to “plant the seed” that college should be in the kids’ futures, whether it’s at Vanguard or not.

“What we’re trying to do is give kids an experience on a college campus to let them see what it’s like,” Wilson said. “That will hopefully give them some vision for the future.”