Student-athletes made a positive impact in the community this spring when members of the MSOE Men’s Soccer team led a 10-week program for at-risk youth.

Soccer for Success is a partnership between the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee, the men’s soccer team and other Milwaukee-based soccer programs. This is the second 10-week session of the program, which started in the fall of 2015.

According to sophomore Peyton Tebon, a biomolecular engineering major, the purpose of the program is two-fold.

“The goals are to give the kids exposure to the game of soccer as well as to encourage healthy lifestyle and constructive behavior,” said Tebon. “The kids look up to the coaches as role models athletically – but academically too.”

Once a week Tebon and three of his teammates – sophomores Braden Andryk and Joe Oswald, and freshman Santi Osso – met with a group of about 20 students in third through fifth grades to teach the fundamentals of soccer.

“We really enjoy working with the kids and providing them with an opportunity to get quality exercise and to develop and learn the skills of a new sport,” Andryk said.

Andryk and Oswald joined the program this spring, while Tebon and Osso have worked with the students since the fall when they led sessions twice a week.

“Santi and I have gotten the chance to see the kid’s growth and improvement throughout the year,” Tebon said. “After about 20 weeks, I would say that we have seen positive results with respect to all of our goals, in addition to the students enjoying playing and having fun.”

Soccer for Success concluded May 26 with a scrimmage. Planning for future sessions is underway.