In May, Starr-Iva Middle School was named the recipient of a $15,000 Sports Matter Grant from the Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation, a philanthropic initiative that supports access to youth sports across the country. The funding has been used to transform a former storage space into a fully functioning weight room, equipping SIMS students with new opportunities to grow stronger, healthier, and more confident through sports and fitness.
The Sports Matter Grant is designed to break down barriers and provide students with access to meaningful athletic opportunities. At Starr-Iva, the funds have been invested in refurbishing and equipping a new strength and conditioning facility, a space that will benefit both the school’s physical education program and its athletic teams.
Physical Education teacher Chris Clark led the renovation project, with help from Mr. Adam Coats, former SIMS principal. The space was most recently used as a storage room, until it was repainted, refinished, and reimagined as what was recently an underused storage room. With the grant funding, the school was able to purchase modern weight training equipment, creating a safe and motivating environment for students.
d“This grant is a game changer for our school,” said Emily Wilson, Principal of Starr-Iva Middle. “Having a dedicated strength and conditioning space will not only enhance our PE program, but it will also give our student-athletes the tools they need to build confidence, improve performance, and develop lifelong healthy habits.”
The new weight room will play a central role in SIMS’s strength and conditioning program, which will be incorporated into physical education classes and athletics. By introducing students to weight training and structured conditioning early on, the program aims to build a foundation of strength, endurance, and confidence that students can carry into high school and beyond.
Superintendent Kathy Hipp emphasized the broader impact the grant will have:
“Opportunities like this show our students that they are worth investing in. Through the generosity of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation, Starr-Iva Middle is now able to provide resources that will positively affect students’ health, confidence, and overall school experience.”
The school opened the weight room to students this school year, with the goal of making it an integral part of both Physical Education classes and after-school athletic training.