Robinson, Meyers partner for alumni vs. student basketball game

Students and alumni play through sweat and tears to raise thousands of dollars for Brian Morden foundation.

Whatever it takes! Student and Alumni play through sweat and tears to provide more than just a game. The senior project that raised thousands of dollars for a noble foundation.

Jocelyn Fetter, Associate Editor
April 23, 2019

On April 13, 2019, Tyler Robinson and Taylor Meyers partnered together to host the Alumni vs. Students basketball game. The game was Meyers and Robinson’s senior projects.

The time doesn’t stop, will you? Student teammate hustles down the court, making every second count. Photo by: Jocelyn Fetter

“

when I realized I could do a special project like this, basketball caught my attention because I knew that my days of playing high school basketball were running out

— Robinson

Robinson was responsible for the basketball game itself, while Meyers was involved with the half-time show.

“The basketball game was between Alumni basketball players from Altoona and some of the students that I’ve played sports with here at Altoona. I grew up watching basketball games at the field house wishing I could be just like them (the Alumni). Since I idolized them while I grew up, I wanted to give them another chance to play at the field house. I knew that I wanted to play against all of the players I grew up watching, and as for my team, I wanted to play with my friends one last time,” Robinson said.

The two seniors wanted this game to benefit a charity they feel is important.

“The Brian Morden foundation was created in order to honor Brian Morden and to fight for those who have his disease or many others like it. They use their platform to provide support, scholarships, and funds to childhood cancer research. Overall their message is one full of kindness and strength,” Meyers said.

The basketball game was alumni against students who attend Altoona now.

Jocelyn Fetter
The stars of the show. The following four kids are the children who are members of the Brian Morden foundation currently, and came to the game to show support.

The basketball game was a benefit game for the Brian Morden Foundation.

“I knew I wanted to incorporate dance into my senior project somehow whether it be through an essay or preferably a performance. I was thinking of putting on a mini-recital at first, then I heard Tyler say he wanted to put on a basketball game for his project,” Meyers said.

“

Hearing that I asked if I could join in and make the halftime dance and that was when the idea was born

— Meyers

A moment to remember. Taylor and her team perform for hundreds of people for a half-time showcase. Photo by: Jocelyn Fetter

Robinson worked on planning the game for months to get it the way he wanted it.

“It was easier to plan the game than to advertise it. From December to the end of March, I spent a lot of time talking about it and not really working as much. I had a meeting with Dawn Morden, and she helped a lot with advertising. I was on the radio, in the paper and even on the news. About two weeks before the game, I got all of the baskets together, all of the teams and everyone that was working ready to go. It took me about five months to get everything perfect. I have been in a walk for the Brian Morden foundation that the basketball team was involved in and they do a lot of other things with the Altoona High School as well, after those experiences, I realized that I’m very thankful for my good health and I want to give back to those kids who can’t get up and do what we can all do every day,” Robinson said.

Dancers involved in the Half-time show

Madison Noel

Savannah Peterson

Dylann Condrin

Sidnie Yoder

Mia Zlupko

Gretchen Messner

Robinson and Meyers knew they wanted their talents to be incorporated into a senior project.

“Tyler has been one of my good friends for a long time, and he is also in my English class. We were brainstorming ideas for our projects at our table in class when he came up with the idea to create an Alumni vs. Students basketball game. I knew he had the willpower and dedication to go through with it and do it right, so I asked him if I could make the halftime dance for it. He graciously agreed, and we ran it past our teacher, Mrs. Johnson, who thought it was also a wonderful idea,” Meyers said.

Now that their idea was ready, they had to get it approved.

“I thought it was a great idea. I knew it would be a lot of work and a risk, but if Tyler was willing to put the time and effort into it, my feelings were to encourage him to go for it and help him any way I could so that he could be successful,” English teacher Tina Johnson said.

After their idea was approved, it was time to put in the work.

“Tyler’s project is very “out of the box.” He needed to be organized and ambitious. This project uses many skills beyond those of researching. This is a real-world project that helped him with his planned college major provided him with many learning opportunities that will benefit him in the future. This goes far beyond a “pen and paper” writing assignment. It is the kind of project I would like more students to take a risk at trying. Tyler also made it very easy to guide him through this project. I was basically a sounding board and helped him to make adjustments here and there. Tyler really was the one who put the most effort into this and came up with ideas to bounce off of me. He deserves all of the credit for this project being such a success. It is definitely a model for future projects and sets the bar high,” Johnson said.

The game raised $4,679 dollars for the Brian Morden Foundation.

“The most important thing that you can take from my project is that when you feel strongly about something and if you put the work in and really put the effort in, anything is possible. It was a big project and at times I doubted myself, but I wanted to push through to make it happen,” Robinson said.

The final score of the game was alumni 95 and students 89.

“I want students to see that a senior project can be fun and exciting instead of dreading it when going into their senior year, I think the most important thing is seeing that you can give back to your community and it’s people in so many different ways. This dance was dedicated to everyone who has been affected by cancer in any way shape or form,” Meyers said.