A recap of spring community events:
Learning is Cool
The Marvin Lewis Community Fund (MLCF), Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) and other partners honored more than 3,300 Cincinnati Public School students in grades one through eight on Saturday, June 12 at Paul Brown Stadium during the second annual Academic Achievement Ceremony. The ceremony is the culmination of the Learning is Cool program that is designed to encourage CPS students to excel academically. Students who make the "A" Honor Roll at least two quarters of the year are invited to the ceremony.
Learning is Cool has helped dramatically increase the number students earning the "A" Honor Roll. There was a 35 percent increase over last year with 3,392 earning that distinction.
At the ceremony, Coach Lewis and participating Bengals players presented the students with a commemorative medal. The students' names appeared on the in-stadium televisions as they were recognized and students from each school had a group photograph with Coach Lewis or a Bengals player.
Golf Classic and scholarships
On May 23, the seventh annual Marvin Lewis Golf Classic, presented by Cincinnati Bell, teed off at Shaker Run Golf Club.
Cris Collinsworth started the day off emceeing the celebrity closest to the pin contest that Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski won. Greg Lloyd, Ken Anderson, Solomon Wilcots, Kellen Winslow, Sr. and Bruce Coslet were among the other celebrities that supported the Community Fund. Bengals assistant coach Louie Cioffi captained the winning team for the second straight year.
The MLCF presented four-year, $20,000 scholarships to local high school students at the "Welcome to Our Jungle" Post Play Party. Armand Cann of Walnut Hills High School, Kristen Gebhardt of Franklin High School and Karen Wilson of Blanchester High School were awarded scholarships from the Marvin Lewis Scholarship Fund. The Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Fund of Fifth Third Bank also provided funds for Wilson and Gebhardt's scholarships. Jamie Coogan of McAuley High School and Kristen Kayse of Mother of Mercy High School were awarded Sharon Thomas Memorial Scholarships and T.J. DeLaet of LaSalle High School was awarded the Vikki Zimmer Memorial Scholarship.
Coaching Clinic
Butch Jones, the new University of Cincinnati head football coach, was the keynote speaker at the Marvin Lewis Coaching Clinic presented by Ignition. Jones joined Coach Lewis, Bengals coaches and other college and high school football coaches as presenters at the program held June 4-5 at Paul Brown Stadium.
In addition to Lewis, members from the Bengals coaching staff who presented included: offensive line coach Paul Alexander, running backs coach Jim Anderson, assistant secondary coach Louie Cioffi, secondary coach Kevin Coyle, linebackers coach Jeff FitzGerald, assistant special teams coach Paul Guenther, defensive line coach Jay Hayes, tight ends coach Jon Hayes, strength coach Chip Morton, wide receivers coach Mike Sheppard, special teams coach Darrin Simmons, assistant strength coach Carlos Woods and quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese.
The clinic featured professional coaches instructing more than 100 youth, junior high and high school football coaches. The curriculum included instruction in areas both on and off the field. Coaches developed the teaching and leadership skills needed to teach the game to young people. They learned how to run a safe and successful program while promoting a positive learning environment. Nutrition, proper fitness training, team development, strategy, drills, communication, community involvement and the importance of education was also covered in the program.
Youth Football Camp
Coach Lewis hosted more than 300 youth at a free, three-day football camp as part of the Marvin Lewis Community Fund's ongoing initiative to build a better future for Cincinnati's young people.
The second annual Old Spice Marvin Lewis Football Camp presented by CBTS and Fifth Third Bank was held June 8-10 at Paul Brown Stadium for 9-14-year-olds. Campers received an Under Armour T-shirt, signed camp team photo, Power Balance bracelet and dinner compliments of LaRosa's, Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que and Gold Star Chili.
Coach Lewis also hosted the Army Strong Challenge, a free speed and strength clinic directed by Ignition. This event was open to 15-23-year-olds on June 9 at Paul Brown Stadium. The clinic was designed to help develop local athletes' speed and agility and empower them to perform at their fullest potential.
