With school systems suffering from budget cuts and reduction of elective courses, Wallace State Community College is doing something to ensure students from low-income families recieve a well-rounded education.

This summer, WCCS will open it’s doors to 200 area students to provide youth-centered instructional and athletic training.

Children between the ages of 10 to 16 will be taught the skills and strategy of basketball, swimming, and martial arts.

The training classes are all part of the National Youth Sports Program. Through funding provided by a $50,000 NYSP grant, WCCS will be one of only of five college campus across the state participating in the program.

NYSP is a non-profit organization which receives a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The NYSP then appropriates subgrants to colleges and universities around the country to provide personnel, facilities and materials to enhance the lives of children from low-income families.

Gourdine said he feels confident that 90 percent to 100 percent of the children participating in the program will learn how to swim.

However, sports will not be the only focus of the program. The children also receive instruction in math, science and computers.

Children participating in the program will also learn more about drug and alcohol prevention, nutrition, and even manners and etiquette.

Most of the instructors will be certified teachers and will receive training on how to use the NYSP lesson plans.

The program begins on June 2 and will last until July 7.

Applications for the summer classes will be available on April 1. Parents can pick them up at local schools, at the WCCS campus and on the web at www.wccs.edu.