Girls Inc. program finishes with a surprise

LYNN – A major component of the Girls Inc. Eureka Summer Program is health and exercise, and the group of 7-9th grade girls were given a surprise Tuesday when two members of the Boston Breakers professional women’s soccer team visited the group’s end of the year field day.Tuesday marked the start of “Eurekathon,” an end of the year field day and award ceremony, which precedes Thursday night’s program graduation. Participants in the program were rewarded for their athletic-based efforts during Eurekathon, and were able to meet with players from the Breakers afterward.Thanks to national non-profit group Athletes For Hope, based in Washington D.C., the Breakers were represented by players Sue Webber and Nancy Goffi Tuesday, who watched the day’s festivities and spoke to the students about their careers and becoming strong role models.”There are times that you face obstacles,” Webber, 23, told the group. “When you are down and out or not playing well you just have to pick yourself back up and keep trying harder.”Along with its health and exercise component, the Eureka program is in place to introduce math, science and technology to girls at an early age.From bridge-building to computer technology, students in grades 7-9 are receiving a hands-on education in all of the fields expected to be at the top of the job market in coming years, and are doing so in a fun, interactive environment that helps them learn through experience rather than books.Participants in the program spent the first part of their day at the Girls Inc.headquarters using computers and classroom resources and the second half of the day at the Greater Lynn YMCA where they are introduced to new sports and physical activity.Every Friday brought a new, related field trip for the group and the program even includes a personal development component where guest speakers, such as the Breakers players, come in to talk to the girls about drug and alcohol abuse, adolescence and staying safe.After briefly speaking about themselves, the players fielded a host of questions from the enthusiastic group ranging from ?how much money do you make?’ to ?did your family support you when you wanted to be a soccer player?’The teammates encouraged the girls to pursue their dreams and keep fighting through adversity, and highlighted the importance of staying active and competing in sports like soccer.”If you want to become a professional soccer player my advice would be to listen to your coaches, absorb everything they say like a sponge,” said Webber, who coaches and substitute teachers in her home state of New York during the off-season. “If you love something, you have to work hard at it and you will get there.”Participants in the Eureka Program will graduate this Thursday night in a ceremony with family and friends at the organization’s new 50 High St. headquarters.Girls Inc. is also holding a golf tournament to support the program Aug. 26 at Gannon Municipal Golf Course. The event will have an 8 a.m. registration and a 9 a.m. shotgun start. Registration costs $175 per golfer and sponsorship opportunities are available for local businesses.For more information call Marsha Billias at 781-592-9744 ex. 258 or Joan Lawrence at ex. 262. Participants can also register online at www.girlsinclynn.org.