Adopt an Athlete -- Program connects McCook Community College jocks with local families

The Trevor Premer family "adopts" several athletes from McCook Community College every year. "It's been a great experience for everyone," Trevor said. Shown in this 2007 photo are Erin, Trevor, Dee and Jessica Premer with several MCC athletes they adopted that year. (File photo)

Juggling school work, athletics and a new environment can be tough on a college student, especially one attending school miles away from home. That's where the Adopt An Athlete program can help.

Families who participate in the Adopt An Athlete program are paired with an athlete, or more than one if they choose, from those participating in the six sports at McCook Community College: volleyball, baseball, women's and men's basketball, softball and golf.

All that is asked of host families is to have the student athlete over for dinner one or two times per month. In exchange, families receive a free pass to attend home events at MCC, an opportunity to meet student athletes from around the area and world and to help student athletes adjust to the community.

Last year, more than 100 athletes at McCook Community College were "adopted" by families in McCook, and this year the MCC Indians Boosters and the MCC Athletic Department are looking for 30 to 40 families to keep the program going.

Students involved in the program last year say the families give athletes a home away from home. "They provide some place the athletes can go when they need to get away from the dorm, if they need a Sunday meal or if they just need a family to spend time with and care about," said Michelle Price, MCC basketball player who participated last year.

Max Abercrombie, who has been hosting student athletes from MCC for several years now, said it's a win-win situation. "It doesn't take much - throw a couple of hamburgers on the grill, chips and dip and call it good," he said. As the cafeteria serves only one meal on Sundays, student athletes aren't the picky type, he said. The program also allows the community to become more connected to MCC, he added. "It's great to go to the games when you know someone that's playing," Abercrombie said, who still keeps in touch with former student athletes now in Holland, Louisiana and Nebraska.

Other host families also have had good experiences with the Adopt An Athlete program, with ties that started years ago still going strong. "I guess we started adopting the college athletes about five years ago," Rebecca Vosburg said. "We are still in touch with most of them today and the first "adoptees" now have four-year degrees!"

The athletes last year were really unique in the fact that she and her husband, Kurt, also became good friends with the parents, Vosburg said, texting the scores on those occasions when the student's parents couldn't attend a game.

Student athletes who participated in the Adopt An Athlete program last year had nothing but praise for the program.

"The Adopt An Athlete program is something that has made my freshman year of college an easier transition from living at home," said Skylar Johnson, MCC basketball athlete.

"It created a home away from home. All my life I had my family in the stands cheering me on at all of my basketball games. But when I came to McCook, which is four hours from my hometown, I knew my family was not going to be able to attend all my games. However, with this program I was paired with an amazing family that came to each and every one of my home games. Although they were not my real family to start off, they soon became very special to me and were a huge support system to me."

For more information, or to "adopt" a student athlete, contact Max Abercrombie at (308) 345-2380 or Sherri Stang at (308) 345-4240.