Rice All-Stars pairs students with special-needs children for basketball on campus

From schoolwork to student government, Rice students know how to keep themselves busy on campus. However, this didn’t stop a group of approximately 40 students from giving back to the local community at the beginning of the spring semester.

For six weeks in January and February, these students participated in the Rice All-Stars, a group organized by Duncan College sophomore Laura Keehan. The group paired the students as one-on-one buddies with approximately 30 special-needs children from the Houston community.

The group met to play basketball at Tudor Fieldhouse on Sunday afternoons.

Keehan decided to create Rice All-Stars to give both Rice students and children with special needs the opportunity to build new friendships and have fun. She was inspired to form the group by her two cousins, who have disabilities. In high school, Keehan volunteered for several basketball and baseball programs similar to Rice All-Stars and was eager to continue her volunteerism at Rice.

“My cousins have inspired me throughout my life,” she said. “When I came to Rice, I was eager to continue volunteering with children who have special needs.” She noted that she was not aware of a lot of opportunities to volunteer for this type of activity.

To spread the word about the Rice All-Stars, Keehan posted on Rice Facebook pages and had two informational meetings.

“I never expected so many Rice students to volunteer,” she said. “I was so impressed by the passion and dedication that they showed for the All-Stars and for ensuring that the players have a great time.”

Sugi Panneerselvam, a sophomore at Duncan, also participated in similar activities in high school. Because of her desire to participate in something similar at Rice, she helped Keehan organize the Rice All-Stars.

“We wanted it to be free and something that reached out to the Houston community,” she said. “We thought it would be a great opportunity for kids to come on campus.”

Ellen Goudeau’s son, Chris, was among the Houston-area children who participated in the Rice All-Stars. Ellen called the program “an asset to the community and a stellar activity for the university.”

“It is unlike any activity I’ve ever witnessed on the Rice campus,” she said. “It has taken inclusion to a new height.”

She said Keehan and her fellow volunteers were naturals as buddies for the participants, and said that Sunday is “utopia” for her son.

Her son Chris called basketball “his favorite sport.”

“I love watching and playing,” he said.

Hector Ibarra is another parent who said his child has greatly benefited from the program.

“My son, Hector, is like any young kid,” Ibarra said. “He likes the attention of the people around him, but needs to feel safe in order to demonstrate that he is ready to play.”

Ibarra said that it has been difficult for his son to get involved in group sports, but the Rice All-Stars allowed him to be accepted and understood.

“This has made him very happy,” he said. “You could see the impact of the program on his face. He was just always so happy to be there and looking for his friend from Rice.”

Gregory Allison, a sophomore at Duncan College who is friends with Keehan, said he decided to become involved with the program because he had never done anything like this before.

“I probably won’t have this opportunity again, so I joined, and it’s been amazing,” he said. “(My buddy and I) have really bonded, and I’m really excited to see him again next season.”

Allison said that he is incredibly proud of Keehan for taking the initiative to bring this to Rice.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to bring these kids in the community and have them come to an institution like Rice and have them mingle with the students,” he said. “I would have loved to do this as a kid, so I can totally imagine why this is the highlight of their week.”

Although the last session for the Rice All-Stars was Feb. 21, Keehan looks forward to hosting another group next year.

“We’re planning to make the Rice All-Stars season an annual event, and we’re looking forward to growing the program so that even more kids can get the chance to play,” Keehan said.

For more information about becoming involved with the Rice All-Stars, contact Keehan at lak7@rice.edu.