"Always believe in yourself. Even if you fall down, never give up."
Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, Co-President of the Glazer Family Foundation, echoed this powerful statement to nearly 100 fifth-grade students, along with Quarterback of the Buccaneers Academies, Jameis Winston, during Friday's Buccaneers Academy Dream Big Day at Egypt Lake Elementary.
Dreaming big remained the theme of the day at the Buccaneers Academy; and just like every Sunday in the huddle, Winston's message motivated each student to take the lead in their own academic success. "Listening is learning. Keep learning, keep listening," expressed Winston. "And keep dreaming BIG!
Darcie Glazer Kassewitz and Jameis Winston join students at Egypt Lake Elementary to celebrate Bucs Academy Dream Big Day
Buccaneers Academies are comprised of 24 schools in the Tampa Bay area, with a focus on underserved communities. Through educational programming and state-of-the-art resources, the Buccaneers provide hands-on engagement that reaches 14,000 students and 2,100 teachers annually.
Egypt Lake Elementary students improved their Florida Assessment Test scores by 13% in Math and 20% in English from the 2015 to 2016 school year. Parents, teachers, and special guests gathered in the school's cafeteria to congratulate the students on their recent designation as the most improved Buccaneers Academy.
As Glazer Kassewitz addressed the students at the morning ceremony, she unveiled a large ticket, the Ticket to the Future. Every graduating 5th grade student at a Buccaneers Academy receives this ticket, that grants them an interview at One Buccaneer Place upon completion of a 4-year degree.
Winston, Glazer Kassewitz, and Principal Lydia Sierra invited each 5th grade class to the front of the room to personally receive their Tickets to the Future before commemorating the moment with a class photo. At the conclusion of this school year- the fourth year of the program- the Buccaneers will have distributed more than 7,500 tickets to Buccaneers Academy students.
"The Ticket to the Future can inspire you. Put it where you can see," said Winston. "Let it inspire you every day."
Captain Fear and Buccaneers Cheerleaders were also spotted at the celebration dance that followed, featuring a DJ that all students are familiar with, fifth grade teacher, Ms. Espinoza.
Buccaneers Academies' Dream Big Day is a celebration of the children at each Buccaneer Academy and is a demonstration of the Buccaneers long-term commitment to the Tampa Bay community and its future leaders.
To learn more about Buccaneers Academies, click HERE
