CKA SAVE Project Helps Students Achieve in High School, Beyond

As both a teacher and a coach, Keith Adams realized that his two professions could learn a lot from each other, especially in making an impact on the lives of student-athletes.

Two years ago, Adams, a social studies resource teacher at and the assistant men’s basketball coach at Hood College in Fredrick, started CKA SAVE Project. The project aims to help student-athletes and their teachers, creating an unique experience for some of Kennedy’s student athletes.

CKA refers to “Coach Keith Adams” and SAVE to “Student Athletes Valuing Education”.

As a former student-athlete himself, who graduated from Paint Branch High School, Adams recognized the need for a program that would add an extra educational component to the lives of student-athletes.

For Adams, the opportunity is designed not only help students graduate from high school but to “take their skills and knowledge to higher education.”

Although the project is based at Kennedy, Adams conducts workshops at nationwide conferences where he trains teachers about what they can take from the lessons of coaches.

“We try to teach teachers how to work like coaches,” Adams, a former head basketball coach at Springbrook and Wootten High Schools.

“Coaches tend to be more reflective about their sports and their teams, they lesson plan to the smallest detail and are extremely goal oriented.”

Of course students are the primary beneficiaries of the program. Adams creates lesson for the students on study skills, time management and how to best communicate with teachers.

The project also selects upperclassmen with a 2.5 GPA or higher to serve as mentors to incoming freshmen.

Student mentors from the 2010 graduating class are all enrolled in college including the University of Maryland, West Virginia University and Hampton University, among others.

Two student mentors at Kennedy, sophomore Collin Dobbins and senior Dejanet Lantion both say the CKA SAVE Project has helped them meet students they would not have otherwise been exposed to.

There’s a bit of fun too: students have taken field trips to amusement parks like Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens.

“That’s another way for everyone to come together,” said Lantion, a basketball player who plans to attend Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pennslyvania in the fall.

“I’m kind of nervous about the whole [college] experience,” she added, “but I’m looking forward to it.”

Meanwhile, Dobbins, who swims and plays lacrosse for Kennedy, said the program has helped him meet local politicians such as Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown along with U.S. Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland - 8th District).

“It gives the members so many opportunities to do great things,” said Dobbins, who carries a weighted 3.8 grade point average. “I’ve never met anyone famous before, let alone a politician.”