LAPLACE — Every sixth grader in St. John the Baptist Parish is headed to the University of New Orleans on Nov. 12, but it will take the support of the community to ensure all 560 children enjoy a day of educational exposure and collegiate basketball.

Local nonprofit Blessed to Be a Blessing is coordinating the field trip along with St. John Parish Public Schools, UNO women’s basketball coach Keeshawn Davenport and new UNO athletic director Tim Duncan.

Davenport has been head coach for nine years, and this is the first time she’s seeing St. John Parish students participate in UNO’s annual youth education day. It’s a milestone she is proud to witness, considering she is a St. John Parish native and an East St. John High School alum.

“When students arrive, they will have educational sessions put on by our administrative staff where they will learn about the importance of nutrition, exercise and academic excellence,” Davenport said. “They’ll have interactions with the basketball players as well. They’ll talk to them about what it takes to get to the next level, not only as an athlete, but as a student athlete.”

Students will be treated to the first UNO women’s home basketball game of the season as the Privateers take on Pensacola Christian.

The day will also feature a variety of STEM activities that correlate to the district curriculum, according to Blessed to Be a Blessing founder Eliza Eugene.

When Duncan was named athletic director for UNO, Eugene was one of the 100 people he vowed to talk to in 100 days. During the meeting, plans to host a St. John Parish field trip sprung to life.

“I received a call saying he noticed some of the things I had done in the community,” Eugene said. “We had the meeting and discussed the vision of the school and how to be more involved. For me, it was about how we can get more kids interested in going to college and exposing them to the universities and other opportunities outside of St. John Parish.”

Blessed to Be a Blessing has supported education in St. John Parish, namely through the annual Backpack Extravaganza that awards more than 1,000 sets of school bags and supplies to local children.

The university field trip is a first, and it’s one Eugene is excited about.

“I think exposure plays a huge role. So often, kids are not exposed to opportunities that are out there. They only know what they see,” Eugene said. “If we bring them there and allow them to begin to dream and hope that some day it could be them, hopefully it can cause them to want to reach for the stars.”

Davenport knows the value of exposure. In her experience, inspiration came from watching athletes and dreaming about where she could go with a basketball career.

“Any time youth can be exposed to something different, it opens up their eyes and gives them hope for a future and maybe gives them encouragement to keep doing well in school,” Davenport said.

Interim Superintendent Heidi Trosclair and teacher Patrick Millet Jr. have been instrumental in coordinating the field trip.

Due to the financial constraints of local families — up to 45 percent of local children are living in poverty, according to United Way — students will not pay to attend the field trip.

However, financial support from the community is needed to pay for 15 buses and color coded shirts for each student. Sponsorship is still being accepted, and volunteer chaperones are welcome. For more information, contact Eugene at 504-451-4712.

On Nov. 9, Blessed to Be a Blessing will honor Davenport with a “Phenomenal Woman” Banquet at Belle Terre Country Club for making the field trip possible for 560 students. Please contact Eugene for ticket information.

Outreach efforts will continue after the field trip is over. On Nov. 23, Blessed to Be a Blessing and Cargill are partnering to give away 700 Thanksgiving meals to children and families in need.

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