June 8, 2006

MILWAUKEE -- Speaking about her experiences during her trip to Rwanda, head coach Terri Mitchell spent some time at El Puente High School in Milwaukee yesterday afternoon.

Mitchell's talk centered around her recent mission trip to Africa, as students at the school had recently studied the various troubles in Rwanda.

"I spoke about the importance of making positive choices in their everyday lives, but also about the importance of having 'hope.'" said Mitchell. "Hope was one of the most plentiful traits among the Rwandans and it can certainly translate to the students lives here in Milwaukee."

El Puente High School was founded in 1997 and one of its co-directors - Lyn Klipstine - was a former MU women's basketball manager and student-athlete (track & field). The program has a math and science emphasis to provide hands-on, project-based learning. El Puente operates a full-day partnership school with the Milwaukee Public Schools to serve children "at-risk." Students are exposed to a variety of colleges and work training programs.

"It is too easy to sit back and let the negative take over. When that happens, hope can fade, as well as opportunities in life." Mitchell added. "The student were excited and you could see in their eyes and on their faces that they are dedicated to making positive choices and contributions."

Click the following link to read more about Coach Mitchell's experiences in Rwanda.