Magical Surprise for Majestic Elementary Arts Academy Student at Salt Lake City Stars Game

A student receiving a gift from the Jordan Education Foundation and  Majestic Elementary It was a day and an experience Jaxson Steele will likely never forget. Jaxson is a 5th grade student at Majestic Elementary Arts Academy and he loves his school, music, and playing the clarinet. But Jaxson will soon be relocating to a new school after his mother unexpectedly passed away the day after Christmas.

To lift Jaxson and his family and let them know they are not alone at this very difficult time, Majestic Elementary Principal Marianne Johansen decided to make one of Jaxson’s dreams come true during a recent field trip for her 5th graders to the Salt Lake City Stars basketball game. With funding from the Jordan Education Foundation, Ms. Johansen was able to purchase a brand-new clarinet for Jaxson so he has his very own instrument at his new school.

With the crowd watching and cheering him on, the magical gift was presented to Jaxson on the court during halftime of the Stars game. Jaxson’s gratitude was obvious and the kindness and support of others will hopefully go a long way in helping Jaxson heal after the loss of his mother.

Thanks to everyone who made a magical memory and show of support for this amazing student!

We invite you to watch the news story on Jaxson’s surprise reported by KSL’s Alex Cabrero.

Fifth grader gets surprise gift at SLC Stars game

Students Treated to NBA Experience During “Kids’ Day” Basketball Game at Delta Center

It was a day they will not soon forget filled with fun, excitement, and for many, a brand-new experience.

The Salt Lake City Stars, the NBA G League affiliate of the Utah Jazz, hosted more than 5,000 fifth graders from Jordan School District and Granite School District elementary schools. It was the second annual Kids’ Day game held at the Delta Center where the Stars took on the Oklahoma City Blue, an Oklahoma City Thunder affiliate.

The Stars’ season goal is to educate and inform young students about the possible careers in sports across all fields, beyond just a player.

“We are excited to continue to grow the Stars’ annual Kids Day Game tradition as we welcome the Jordan and Granite School Districts,” said Salt Lake City Stars President Jonathan Rinehart.  “It means a lot to our team and our staff to give back to the community and support even the youngest of our fans.

The event brought an abundance of excitement and entertainment keeping the young fans engaged in the game, which included Stars mascot Buster the Bear, T-shirt giveaways, and interactive in-game activities, as well as appearances by the Utah Jazz Bear and the Zyia Active Jazz Dancers.

Thanks to the Salt Lake City Stars for giving students such an unforgettable experience!

Congratulations to Bingham High School Student Artist!

Erin Grimshaw artworkShe is a very talented artist and student at Bingham High School and now Erin Grimshaw is getting some recognition for her artwork.

Erin Grimshaw was selected as one of the monthly Arts Council’s “Artists on Display” for The Gale Center in South Jordan. You can see the incredible works by Erin and witness first-hand, her amazing talents by touring the display.

The Gale Center is free and open to the public Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Erin’s art will be exhibited at the Gale Center until the end of January and then will be on display at the South Jordan City Hall.

Congratulation, Erin. Keep up the great work in your artistic career.

Salt Lake City Stars Inspire Elementary School Students to Reach for the Stars with Careers in NBA and Professional Sports

SLC Starts Mascot standing in front of Columbia Elementary Students The Salt Lake City Stars are hoping to inspire students at Columbia and other elementary schools to reach for the stars by pursuing careers in the NBA that don’t involve making free throws, assists, or dunks on the court.

During a fun-filled assembly with the Stars coach, the team Mascot, and others in the basketball organization, students learned about opportunities to work in the NBA and with other professional sports teams in jobs which don’t require you to be a pro athlete. They heard from the team photographer, those in marketing for the Salt Lake City Stars, even learned what it’s like to be a team statistician.

It was also a chance to get 5th grade students excited about their upcoming field trip to see the Salt Lake City Stars play a home game at the Delta Center on January 17 for free. Many of the students have never had the opportunity to experience a professional sporting event.

Thanks to the Salt Lake City Stars for caring about kids and their futures.

Supercast Episode 227: Classroom Volunteer John Titus Changing Lives with His Love for Students and Learning

Superintendent with Kimberly Mendenhall and John TitusShe says working with him is like winning the lottery every single day at Fort Herriman Middle School.

On this episode of the Supercast, we take you inside teacher Kimberly Mendenhall’s classroom where a volunteer by the name of John Titus has become a priceless part of instruction. Mr. Titus spends every minute he can helping to change lives with his love for students and their learning. Despite being retired, John shows up for students and Ms. Mendenhall almost every single day.