Outreach Scholarship Community Partnership Award

Daniel Varner, Daniel R. Gould, and Tim Richey

Honoring Kinesiology Professor Dan Gould and Think Detroit Police Athletic League

MSU's Institute for the Study of Youth Sports (ISYS) and the Think Detroit Police Athletic League (Think Detroit PAL) have trained coaches and volunteers, evaluated programs, and produced measurable outcomes for thousands involved with youth sports in the City of Detroit. The partnership has now been recognized as an outstanding university-community collaboration.

Daniel R. Gould, professor in the College of Education's Department of Kinesiology and director of ISYS, along with community partner Think Detroit PAL, were named co-recipients of the Outreach Scholarship Community Partnership Award during the annual MSU Awards Convocation in February 2013. Tim Richey, current chief executive officer of Think Detroit PAL, and Dan Varner, founding CEO, represented the organization at the award ceremony.

The partnership began seven years ago between Gould, Varner, and Richey, who was then director of athletics at Think Detroit PAL. At Varner's request, Gould and Dr. Larry Lauer, ISYS director of coaching education, conducted training in positive youth development through sports for a group of Think Detroit PAL coaches. A coaching education program for 1,500 coaches and managers followed, aimed at building character in young people through youth sports. The program has been used to train over 5,000 Think Detroit PAL coaches and managers over the past five years, impacting thousands of Detroit youth.

"We share this award with our teams at ISYS and Think Detroit PAL, as well as the more than 11,000 youth, Detroit police officers and community volunteers participating yearly in those athletic, academic, and leadership development programs," said Gould.

Current Think Detroit PAL CEO Tim Richey is an MSU alum who played defender and midfielder on the MSU soccer team from 1989 to 1993. "Our goal is to build character in young people through athletic, academic, and leadership development programs, and Dan Gould, Larry Lauer, and the entire ISYS team have made significant contributions to our efforts," said Richey. "By listening and working with our staff, coaches, and community volunteers, they have been able to evaluate programs and trainings and help us identify ways to clarify, improve, and communicate our key objectives."

"As a result of our partnership with MSU, we have been able to sharpen our focus and our ability to convey our effectiveness to local leaders, funders, policymakers, and others who believe positive experiences in sports and physical activity can make the difference in young lives," said Richey.

Learn more about the Outreach Scholarship Community Partnership Award at engage.msu.edu/awards/cesa.