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Chattanooga Tourism Co. Advances Sports Tourism Facilities Assessment

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Chattanooga Tourism Co. will conduct the first of two site visits with sports tourism facilities assessment consultants in June as part of a strategic study to evaluate Hamilton County’s tournament-ready venues and identify development opportunities.

The assessment comes on the heels of securing hosting rights for TSSAA tennis championships in 2026-2027, adding to Chattanooga Tourism Co.’s growing sports portfolio that benefits visitors and residents alike.

“We compete with every other city to bring sports tournaments and special events to Chattanooga, and we need to remain competitive,” said Chattanooga Tourism Co. CEO Barry White. “Great sports facilities help us attract new events and retain the events, like the NCAA softball national championship, which are already in our portfolio. In turn, Chattanoogans benefit by having well-equipped sports facilities nearby that their families can use.”

Overall, tourism generates $1.7 billion in annual visitor spending in Hamilton County and saves local households an average of $1,205 in taxes each year. Sports tourism remains a strategic focus, supported by dedicated sales and event production teams.

Chattanooga Tourism Co. helped bring 102 sports events with 220,000 attendees to the area in 2024, including Ironman 70.3, Head of the Hooch rowing regatta, TSSAA Girls’ Soccer State Championships, BlueCross Bowl TSSAA Football State Championships and the NJCAA Division III Softball Championship.

The sports facilities study, funded by a Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD) grant, began in mid-2024. The June site visits represent the next phase of the assessment, which will evaluate existing tournament-ready facilities and recommend opportunities to enhance community assets and increase competitiveness in the national sports tourism market. Stakeholder meetings will be planned for later this year.

The study complements East Ridge’s Camp Jordan Sports Facilities Feasibility Study and the City of Chattanooga’s Parks and Outdoors Plan. Site visits will engage community stakeholders as consultants tour venues and assess development potential.

Chattanooga Tourism Co. drives economic and social prosperity by promoting and developing visitor experiences. The organization has maintained multiyear contracts with partners such as TSSAA, NCAA, IRONMAN, and youth sports operators, while continually recruiting new events to boost visitation and community impact.



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Teesside youth discovers more than a sport

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December 15, 2025

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For 16-year-old Teesside resident Mitchell Tinkler, son of ConocoPhillips employee Steven Tinkler, powerchair football has become more than just a sport; it’s been a path to belonging, achievement and joy.

Steven remembers the day Mitchell first tried powerchair football, a fast-paced sport that enables individuals with physical impairments to play football. 

It was a rainy Sunday in 2019, and the Tinkler family had journeyed to a local club in Darlington to see if the sport would be a good fit for 10-year-old Mitchell, who was born with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness and degeneration.

Mitchell shows off the 2025 Premiership trophy. Behind him is his sister, Elliotte; his mother, Kate; and his father, Steven, who works at the Teesside Oil Refinery. 

“We sat in the car, thinking, ‘What’s this going to be like?’” Steven recalled.  

As Mitchell maneuvered around the court during the tryout, George Radcliffe, Darlington Powerchair Football Club co-founder and coach, analyzed his performance.

“He’s good,” George told Steven, recognizing Mitchell’s potential.    

“You’ve only watched him for five minutes, George,” said Steven. “How can you tell he’s good?”

“He’s got great hand-eye coordination,” George said. “His timing is great. He can drive backwards. He’s going to be good. He’ll go on to do great things.”

That pivotal experience set things in motion, with the Tinklers discovering more than just a new sporting activity for Mitchell, whose declining mobility required him to start using a power wheelchair around age 10.

“From Mitchell’s first trial, three things stood out,” Steven said. “He really enjoyed it; he had a natural talent; and that this opportunity wasn’t just about football. The welcome we got from the Darlington team, the recognition, the camaraderie, all struck us that first day.”

‘It’s nice to know you are the same as everyone else’

During his first two seasons, Mitchell played for Darlington Powerchair Football Club, which competed in a regional league. He was the leading goal scorer in his first year and contributed to the team’s regional championship win.

“It was a sign of things to come,” Steven said.

Mitchell with Jon Bolding, England Powerchair National Team captain and friend. The England National Team represents England in international powerchair football competitions.



In 2021, Mitchell achieved a new milestone when he got an opportunity to play for the Teesside Powerchair Football Club (PFC), helping the team qualify for a coveted spot in the Wheelchair Football Association’s National League, which consists of the Premiership and the Championship divisions. It was a tough couple of games, but they won, and Mitchell scored the winning goal that propelled Teesside PFC into the National League.

Mitchell continued playing with Darlington PFC for a couple more seasons before making the move to Teesside PFC, and along the way, the Tinkler family traveled to international powerchair football tournaments, including memorable trips to Bruges in Belgium, and Belfast in Northern Ireland. The experience in Bruges stood out, Steven said, for the hotel’s exceptional wheelchair access, and the event itself gave Mitchell invaluable opportunities to train and compete alongside some of the world’s top powerchair players.

Mitchell was named Young Player of the Season for the 2024/2025 season and also received the Goal of the Season Award. 

In 2025, Mitchell reached the current pinnacle of his sporting journey, contributing to Teesside PFC’s victory in the Premiership, the highest tier of the National League. His peers voted him Young Player of the Season, and he also received the Goal of the Season Award. He has recently been accepted on to the National Emerging Talent Program and has been invited to a training camp at Lilleshall, the historic home of English Football.

“I really enjoy powerchair football,” Mitchell said, “it’s great to play against other amazing players and beat them, and it’s nice to know that you’re the same as everyone else.”

Alongside his athletic achievements, Mitchell’s positive attitude and zest for life have made him a much loved and respected figure within the powerchair football community.

Mitchell (10) training at The National Emerging Talent Program in Lilleshall, England, U.K. The program identifies and nurtures elite powerchair football talent. Players learn about the Football Association’s key capabilities and skills quadrant: positioning, movement, techniques, timing, deception and scanning.



“He has a lot of friends in the sport,” said Mitchell’s mother, Kate. “It’s really nice to be part of a welcoming community that understands disability, where everybody gets it at an individual and a family level. It has done wonders for his self-confidence, and the acceptance of his disability, it’s great that he’s been given the opportunity to play a sport he loves and thrive at an elite level. Like when we were in Bruges, entering the hotel, which had over 50 accessible rooms, and instantly clicking with every new player or family member was an emotional experience and when sightseeing, we were never short of advice around the best accessible loos.”

Sharing Mitchell’s success with colleagues

At ConocoPhillips, Steven has been sharing Mitchell’s achievements with his Teesside Oil Terminal colleagues and also members of the employee resource group, A Better Life for Everyone Network (ABLE).


ABLE raises awareness and provides support, coaching, mentoring and networking opportunities for employees with disabilities, as well as employees with family members connected through disabilities.

Steven said ABLE gives him the opportunity to talk about Mitchell and be authentic at work.

“If I didn’t talk about Mitchell or I didn’t talk about my family or powerchair football,” he said, “it would be a part of my life that I wasn’t bringing to work.”

On ABLE’s social networking page, Steven shared a documentary on powerchair football, “3 in a Box: The Powerchair Documentary,” made by his 20-year-old daughter, Elliotte Tinkler, for her Media and Performance studies at the University of Salford.  

The Tinklers attended the 2025 British Formula One Grand Prix this summer, enjoying four days of entertainment and watching another exciting sport played by elite athletes. “While we were there” Kate said, “we bumped into five other powerchair players, some were close friends, some we knew and others were international players that we had only seen on YouTube, but all gave and received the same welcome, we play powerchair, we are part of the family.”

Elliotte’s documentary powerfully highlights that powerchair football is not just a recreational activity, but a highly competitive sport that demands remarkable skill, strategic thinking and unwavering determination from its athletes.

“Tissues may be required,” Steven noted when he shared Elliotte’s video.

Although Mitchell’s condition limits his mobility, he does all the normal teenage things, focusing on what he can do rather than what he can’t.  

When he’s not playing powerchair football, he’s gaming on his Xbox or socializing with his friends on his computer. Mitchell plans to study game design at college.

Steven Tinkler | Competency Assurance Team Leader

Steven accepted the 2025 HR&D Award for Excellence in Leadership Development for ConocoPhillips. 

Steven, whose background is in mechanical engineering, moved into a Human Resources role in 2021, where he works as a competency assurance team leader in the Norway business unit.

He oversees Teesside’s training and competency team, which won HR&D (Human Resources and Development) Awards for Excellence in Organizational Development (2024) and Excellence in Leadership Development (2025).

“We train, we confirm competency and support personal development,” he said. “But more than that, fundamentally, all our activity is in support of the business and its development. We constantly work to understand what the business needs, and we help them deliver it.”





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Simsbury coach’s wrecked car was hidden near road after crash: Report

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December 15, 2025

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This is the area of Bushy Hill Road in Simsbury where a car went off the road in a Sept. 29, 2025, crash that was undetected for more than 12 hours. The crash victim later died. The above picture was taken on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025.

This is the area of Bushy Hill Road in Simsbury where a car went off the road in a Sept. 29, 2025, crash that was undetected for more than 12 hours. The crash victim later died. The above picture was taken on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025.

Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media

SIMSBURY — A popular youth sports coach who died after being trapped in his Honda for more than 12 hours in September had gone off the road twice before hitting a fence and trees, which covered the car and made him hard to find, according to the accident report.

Colin Bischoff Stephenson’s 2009 Honda Accord ended up in the small patch of woods between a house on Overlook Terrace and a home on Bushy Hill Road, or Route 167, the report said. Even in daylight, the wreck could not be seen from the busy Bushy Hill Road, which police said was fewer than 20 feet away.  

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The wreck was visible from the yard of the Bushy Hill Road house, but a resident there told police they did not hear the crash, the report said, nor did they see it the next morning because they left the house when it was still dark. No one called 911 that night, and police didn’t receive any automatic alerts about the crash.

When first responders finally got to the popular Enfield teacher and youth sports coach, he was not breathing normally, the report said. He died the next day.

A video of the crash from the Overlook Terrace home’s Ring camera, obtained from the Simsbury Police Department, shows headlights enter a wooded area amid crashing sounds in the inky black darkness behind the house.

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The only family member who appeared to see the crash live was a dog standing on the deck. The video was not released with the report, but was obtained by CT Insider after a separate Freedom of Information Act request.  

The six-page report does not give a conclusive reason for the crash but mentions that officers smelled an odor of alcohol and found an empty vodka “nip” bottle and prescription medication, the report said. Neither driving under the influence nor speed are listed as factors in the crash, however.

There was no mechanical problem that would have contributed to the crash, the report also said.

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According to the report by Sgt. Laurel M. Harrington, the Overlook Terrace resident’s Ring camera picked up the southbound car crashing shortly before 9:45 p.m. on Sept. 29.

From the video and evidence in the road, police determined the southbound Honda drifted to the right off Bushy Hill Road after passing Latimer Lane and traveled on grass and an embankment on the west side of the street for about 150-200 feet, the report said. The car hit rocks, which likely redirected it back onto Bushy Hill Road, it said, where the damaged tires left marks.

As the car passed Overlook Terrace, it crossed into the lane for opposing traffic, going off the eastern side of the street, hitting trees, rocks and a fence, the report said.

The car ended up in the wood line between the back yard of the home on Overlook Terrace and the side of the Bushy Hill Road house, according to the report.

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“The vehicle came to a final rest wedged between a large tree on the passenger side and a fence and trees on the driver’s side,” it said.  

On the Ring video, a few thrashing sounds could be heard, which then became a series of loud crashing sounds, as the car’s headlights entered the dark wooded area behind the Overlook Terrace house as the family dog watched from the deck. A resident came outside, peered into the darkness and saw nothing, after which he went back inside and returned with a flashlight, which he swept around his backyard to no avail. A woman joined him, asking whether it was a tree. After they didn’t see anything, they went back inside the house. 

One of the homeowners told CT Insider Friday that they thought the crashing sound was a large, old tree on their neighbor’s property falling. When they looked at the video, they saw headlights but thought they were on the road, she said. 

At 8:02 a.m. the next day, Simsbury police received a missing persons report about Stephenson, a 44-year-old from the Weatogue section of town, and used his cellphone’s tracking technology to “ping” it. The cellphone carrier provided GPS coordinates in the area of the Overlook Terrace and Bushy Hill Road houses, the report said, but when police arrived they initially did not see the car, even in the daylight.

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“Due to the multiple trees and fence the vehicle had struck, the vehicle was not visible from the roadway,” Harrington wrote in the report.

Officers walked up and down the street looking for signs of a crash and found small pieces of the Honda, Lt. Greg Samselski said in a phone interview Thursday. At 10:15 a.m., they found the car, he said — 17 feet from Bushy Hill Road.

The brush “kind of collapsed on top of the vehicle,” covering it, Samselski said.

Stephenson had a pulse but was not breathing normally, the report said; officers provided medical aid and called for firefighters and medics. Firefighters had to use tools to get Stephenson out of the car because the trees he struck blocked the doors, as did a piece of the fence. He was removed from the car and taken to Saint Francis Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on Wednesday, Oct 1. 

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An autopsy was not done, but an investigation showed he died of complications of blunt force injuries of head and torso, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

In his obituary, Stephenson was remembered as a married father of three and lover of music, reading, writing and sports.

He had fond memories of his time on the Conard High School football team in West Hartford, it said; more recently, he coached Simsbury youth football and basketball and girls’ volleyball at the Academy of Computer Science and Engineering in Enfield, where he began teaching as part of a career change. 

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“Though his time there was brief, he was quickly becoming a student favorite, their very own ‘Ted Lasso,’ ” the obituary said.



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Kiley to Hold Hearing on the Crisis in American Youth Sports — Tomorrow at 10:15

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December 15, 2025

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Kiley to Hold Hearing on the Crisis in American Youth Sports — Tomorrow at 10:15




WASHINGTON, D.C.,
December 15, 2025



Tomorrow, at 10:15 a.m., the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, chaired by Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA), will hold a hearing titled “Benched: The Crisis in American Youth Sports and Its Cost to Our Future.”

What:

Subcommittee hearing titled “Benched: The Crisis in American Youth Sports and Its Cost to Our Future”

 

When:

10:15 a.m. on Tuesday, December 16, 2025

 

Where:

2175 Rayburn House Office Building

 

Witnesses:

  • Mr. Tom Farrey, Executive Director, Sports & Society Program, Aspen Institute

  • Mr. Steve Boyle, Co-Founder & Executive Director, 2-4-1 Sports 

  • Ms. Katherine Van Dyck, J.D., Senior Fellow, American Economic Liberties 

  • Mr. John O’Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer, Changing the Game Project 

Press:

The hearing is open to the press and will be live-streamed on the Committee’s YouTube page.



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US Sports Camps Partners with NFL Veteran Anthony Newman to Launch Multi-Sport Programming in Portland

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24 minutes ago

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December 15, 2025

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Key Takeaways

  • US Sports Camps, the nation’s largest youth sports camp network, partners with University of Oregon Hall of Famer Anthony Newman for summer 2026 launch
  • Nike Multi-Sport & Recreation Camps will serve ages 6-13 at Catlin Gabel School starting July 6, 2026
  • Newman brings 12-year NFL career experience and deep Portland community roots to expand multi-sport access in Pacific Northwest
  • USSC has operated Nike Sports Camps for 30 years and runs programs since 1975 under its sports education mission
  • Partnership reflects growing emphasis on multi-sport development over single-sport specialization for youth athletes

Building Multi-Sport Access in the Pacific Northwest

US Sports Camps announced a partnership with Anthony Newman to bring Nike Multi-Sport & Recreation Camps to the Portland area beginning summer 2026. The camps will operate at Catlin Gabel School and serve children ages 6 to 13 across all genders.

Newman, a University of Oregon Athletic Hall of Famer and former NFL defensive back, spent 12 years in professional football with the Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, and Oakland Raiders. Before his NFL career, he earned First-team All-Pac-10 honors at Oregon and received national recognition as a baseball and football prospect at Beaverton High School.

The partnership gives USSC a recognized local figure to anchor its Portland expansion. “Partnering with US Sports Camps allows us to create an environment where every kid feels supported, challenged, and inspired,” Newman said. “I am proud to help bring a true multi-sport experience to Portland.”

Market Position and Operational Scale

US Sports Camps operates as the nation’s largest youth sports camp network and has served as the licensed provider of Nike Sports Camps for three decades. The company launched its first camps in 1975 and maintains its original mission of shaping lifelong enjoyment of athletics through sports education.

USSC operates under Youth Enrichment Brands, a network that includes i9 Sports (the nation’s largest multi-sport provider of youth sports leagues), SafeSplash Swim School (the world’s largest operator and franchisor of swim schools), and School of Rock (performance-based music education).

Dr. Nora Osei, Senior Director of US Sports Camps, emphasized Newman’s alignment with the organization’s philosophy. “Anthony reflects everything we believe multi-sport experiences can offer young athletes,” Osei said. “He is a teacher, a mentor, and a builder of community.”

Multi-Sport Development Strategy

The camp structure focuses on exposing young athletes to diverse athletic experiences rather than single-sport specialization. USSC positions this approach as supporting long-term athletic growth, creativity, and physical confidence.

Camps will offer activities designed to strengthen fundamental athletic skills while encouraging exploration of different sports. The programming aims to build a foundation for continued athletic participation rather than early specialization in one discipline.

Newman’s background as a multi-sport athlete reinforces this positioning. His high school career included national recognition in both baseball and football before he chose to focus on football at the collegiate level.

Strategic Implications

The Portland launch represents USSC’s continued investment in multi-sport programming with locally connected athlete partners. By securing Newman, USSC gains access to his community relationships and reputation built over decades in Oregon athletics.

The summer 2026 timeline provides nearly 18 months for marketing, facility preparation, and program development. Camp registration is available through the dedicated landing page at ussportscamps.com/welcome/anthony-newman/.

The partnership follows industry trends toward multi-sport participation for youth athletes, particularly in the 6-13 age range where skill development and athletic exploration receive increasing emphasis over early specialization.

Via: US Sports Camps

YSBR provides this content on an “as is” basis without any warranties, express or implied. We do not assume responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, legality, reliability, or use of the information, including any images, videos, or licenses associated with this article. For any concerns, including copyright issues or complaints, please contact YSBR directly.

About Youth Sports Business Report

Youth Sports Business Report is the largest and most trusted source for youth sports industry news, insights, and analysis covering the $54 billion youth sports market. Trusted by over 50,000 followers including industry executives, investors, youth sports parents and sports business professionals, we are the premier destination for comprehensive youth sports business intelligence.

Our core mission: Make Youth Sports Better. As the leading authority in youth sports business reporting, we deliver unparalleled coverage of sports business trends, youth athletics, and emerging opportunities across the youth sports ecosystem.

Our expert editorial team provides authoritative, in-depth reporting on key youth sports industry verticals including:

  • Sports sponsorship and institutional capital (Private Equity, Venture Capital)
  • Youth Sports events and tournament management
  • NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) developments and compliance
  • Youth sports coaching and sports recruitment strategies
  • Sports technology and data analytics innovation
  • Youth sports facilities development and management
  • Sports content creation and digital media monetization

Whether you’re a sports industry executive, institutional investor, youth sports parent, coach, or sports business enthusiast, Youth Sports Business Report is your most reliable source for the actionable sports business insights you need to stay ahead of youth athletics trends and make informed decisions in the rapidly evolving youth sports landscape.

Join our growing community of 50,000+ industry leaders who depend on our trusted youth sports business analysis to drive success in the youth sports industry.

Stay connected with the pulse of the youth sports business – where industry expertise meets actionable intelligence.

Sign up for the biggest newsletter in Youth Sports – Youth Sports HQ – The best youth sports newsletter in the industry 

Follow us on LinkedIn

Follow Youth Sports Business Report Founder Cameron Korab on LinkedIn

Are you a brand looking to tap into the world’s most passionate fanbase… youth sports?

Introducing Play Up Partners, a leading youth sports marketing agency connecting brands with the power of youth sports. We specialize in youth sports sponsorships, partnerships, and activations that drive measurable results.

About Play Up Partners

Play Up Partners is a leading youth sports marketing agency connecting brands with the power of youth sports. We specialize in youth sports sponsorships, partnerships, and activations that drive measurable results.

Why Sponsor Youth Sports?

Youth sports represents one of the most engaged and passionate audiences in sports marketing. With over 70 million young athletes and their families participating annually, the youth sports industry offers brands unparalleled access to motivated communities with strong purchasing power and loyalty.

What Does Play Up Partners Do?

We’ve done the heavy lifting to untangle the complex youth sports landscape so our brand partners can engage with clarity, confidence, and impact. Our vetted network of accredited youth sports organizations (from local leagues to national tournaments and operators) allows us to create flexible, scalable programs that evolve with the market.

Our Approach

Every partnership we build is rooted in authenticity and value creation. We don’t just broker deals. We craft youth sports marketing strategies that:

  • Deliver measurable ROI for brand partners
  • Create meaningful experiences for athletes and families
  • Elevate the youth sports ecosystem

Our Vision

We’re positioning youth sports as the most desirable and effective platform in sports marketing. Our mission is simple: MAKE YOUTH SPORTS BETTER for athletes, families, organizations, and brand partners.

Common Questions About Youth Sports Marketing

Where can I sponsor youth sports? How do I activate in youth sports? What is the ROI of youth sports marketing? How much does youth sports sponsorship cost?

We have answers. Reach out to info@playuppartners.com to learn how Play Up Partners can help your brand navigate the youth sports landscape.

Youth sports organizations: Interested in partnership opportunities? Reach out to learn about our accreditation process.



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Mishawaka’s Terry Elkins is The Tribune’s high school Student of the Week for Dec. 8

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2 hours ago

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December 15, 2025

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Dec. 15, 2025, 1:25 p.m. ET

Student of the Week logo

Congratulations to Terry Elkins of Mishawaka High School! He was voted by Tribune readers as the South Bend Tribune Student of the Week for Dec. 8. The school could not arrange a photo to be taken of Terry.

Winner: Terry Elkins, Mishawaka High School

Terry Elkins, Mishawaka High School: Terry is amazing and has grown up so much this past year. He is always looking for ways to help and to be kind! He moves desks when his friends in wheelchairs need room to sit and navigate the classroom. He reads and explains what he is seeing and experiencing to his one friend who is unable to see but is very interested in what is happening. I can always count on Terry to participate and to help others. He quietly avoids any negativity that may take place and even tries to solve situations in order to encourage others to feel better about themselves or the given situations. I am so proud of his progress and who he is becoming. Love that kid!



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Sycamore dancers perform | News, Sports, Jobs

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December 15, 2025

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DANCERS PERFORM — The ballet class at the Sycamore Youth Center, above, performed for audiences to showcase what they learned during the fall semester. Dancers included, from left, front, Gretl Nelson, Faye Lash, Piper Manuel and Ellie Janik; and back, instructor Diana Tygett, Luna Dickey, Zoe Nelson, Teibe Banga and Laura Schlich. Students also included Eden Graham, Emmie Graham, Elise Graham, Miriam Zaleski and Geneva Terry. Below, students who took part in the jazz dance class and performed included, from left, Manuel, Lash, Tygett, Zaleski, Schlich, Cana Frank, and Dickey. Emma and Elise Graham took the class as well.
— Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — The Sycamore Youth Center held its end-of-semester ballet and jazz dance recitals Dec. 1, giving students the opportunity to showcase what they learned this fall in the center’s free programs. Classes are taught each week by longtime instructor Diana Tygett, whose dedication and encouragement have helped the young dancers grow in skill and confidence.

The ballet class performed a graceful routine demonstrating their progress in technique and foundational movement. Dancers included: Luna Dickey, Zoe Nelson, Teibe Banga, Laura Schlich, Gretl Nelson, Faye Lash, Piper Manuel, Ellie Janik, Miriam Zaleski, Geneva Terry and Eden, Emmie and Elise Graham.

Tygett shared how the ballet class focuses on technique and personal development.

“The girls learned basic ballet positions, technique and strengthening, while increasing their confidence and abilities,” she explained. “Watching them grow in grace, poise and courage each week has been a joy.”

The jazz dance class presented an upbeat routine featuring a variety of jazz styles and steps during the performance. Students taking the class included Piper Manuel, Faye Lash, Diana Tygett, Miriam Zaleski, Laura Schlich, Cana Frank, and Luna Dickey, Emmie Graham and Elise Graham.

Tygett emphasized the jazz class blends structure with creativity.

“The girls learned jazz techniques and steps to a variety of styles in a fun and engaging way,” she said.

Sycamore Youth Center Executive Director Bobbyjon Bauman praised the students and their instructor, saying, “We are incredibly proud of these young dancers and thankful for Diana’s outstanding leadership. Providing free arts opportunities allows children to develop their gifts in a supportive environment, and today’s recitals showed how much they have grown.”

The Sycamore Youth Center serves more than 500 kindergarten through 12th-grade students weekly through more than 40 free classes and programs, including dance, art, music, tutoring, leadership training and life skills.





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