Cal Poly Pomona Athletics Department
Sponsors 30 Youths at Sports Camps

Sergio Perez charges toward the goal during Youth Soccer Camp at Cal Poly Pomona. The camp is under the direction of former Los Angeles Galaxy star Paul Caligiuri and Perez is a "budding bronco," an underpriviledged youngster attending camp on a scholarship.

Andrew Hernandez and Ruel Mitchell attend camp as "Budding Broncos" as they talk with women's team player Brandi Fletcher at Bronco Basketball Camp, run by the coaches and members of the Cal Poly Pomona basketball teams.

For the first time, Cal Poly Pomona’s Athletic Department is providing scholarships for local school children to attend the university’s popular summer sports camps, which can cost from $80 to $300 each. Coined “Budding Broncos,” the program is limited to three schools in its pilot year: Kellogg Polytechnic, Arroyo Elementary and Marshall Intermediate. The 24 children who received scholarships showed good citizenship, academic improvement and financial need.

“We really want to do everything we can to reach out to kids who otherwise may not be able to afford to come to our camps,” said Brian Underwood, director of athletic development. “We hope while they’re on campus they have a great athletic experience and get a good feel what it’s like to be on a college campus. Maybe we can also plant a seed in them that someday college is something they may want to do themselves.”