June 9, 2009

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Steve Project, Pete Rusticus and The VanderWeide Family Foundation, and administrators from Davenport University have announced an expansion of all-star games for their Champions of Character "Who Says You Can't Come Home" series. On Wednesday, June 17, 2009 the area's top senior men and women college student-athletes will come together for a night of games at Davenport University's Student Center.

Top senior college student-athletes from the Greater Grand Rapids area and local colleges will compete in a unique all-star format as the teams will be composed of NCAA Division I, II, III and NAIA players. 30 men and 30 women have been nominated for the only college all-star game in Michigan.

Davenport University will be represented by three graduating seniors as Sara Haverdink, Stephani Roles and Matt Barczak will all participate in the games. Men's Head Coach Burt Paddock will also be one of the coaches during the men's game at 7:30 PM.

The 2nd Annual College All-Star games will kick off with the women's game at 5:30 PM and the men's game is scheduled for a 7:30 PM start.

Tickets will be only $5.00 at the door for all interested parents and spectators. The goal is to raise $5000-$7500 in support of the Champions of Character lecturing initiative, in which every player, coach, referee, parent, and spectator will commit back to the true spirit of competition through respect, integrity, responsibility, leadership, and sportsmanship.

The very next day, the 3rd Annual High School All-Star games will feature the top senior boys and girls, who were nominated by organizers, local high school and college coaches, and our media panel. These games will be at Cornerstone University on Thursday, June 18th with the girls' game tipping off at 5:30 pm with the boys game scheduled for 7:30 pm.

Future Panthers that will see action in those two games are: Rockford's Gabe Vanderjagt, East Kentwood's John Ford, Forest Hills Northern's Javontae Ford and West Catholic's Max Prendergast on the boys side as well as West Catholic's Megan Collison and Forest Hill's Central's Kristina and Katelyn Cousins on the girls side.

Major Corporate Sponsors are The Vanderweide Family Foundation, MVP Sports, Meijer, and Monster Energy Drink.

For more information, contact Steve Project by email at steveproject@hotmail.com or by phone at 616-262-7369