Robots, Fossils and Students Take Over Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark
Third annual MVP Field Day Celebrates Success of Growing OKC Dodgers MVP Program
Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark transformed into a vibrant and lively classroom filled with robots, interactive demonstrations, virtual reality displays, fossils, rocks, science experiments and more during the third annual MVP Field Day.
Hundreds of elementary students, teachers and their families from across the state of Oklahoma came to Oklahoma City on a Saturday morning in July to cap off the third year of the OKC Dodgers MVP Program: Encouraging STEM Education presented by Devon Energy.
More than 7,200 third- and fourth-grade students from across the state were impacted by this free program during the 2018–19 school year.
The fourth year of the program kicks off this fall as students and teachers return to classrooms throughout Oklahoma for the 2019–20 school year.
“We are proud to have the chance to reward MVP Program students and teachers for their hard work during the school year and encourage future participation in STEM education throughout the state of Oklahoma,” OKC Dodgers President/General Manager Michael Byrnes said. “We have received incredible responses from teachers and students during the program’s first three years and we enjoyed providing a fun MVP Field Day.”
The free program rewards Oklahoma elementary students’ achievements in science and math and encourages students and their teachers to participate in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curriculum. Top-performing MVP students receive tickets to an OKC Dodgers game as well as a commemorative MVP baseball hat.
The program culminates each year with MVP Field Day at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark — an exclusive STEM-based event for participating MVP students and teachers, as well as their families.
The 2019 MVP Field Day included STEM activities presented by Science Museum Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Memorial Museum, SAGE STEAM Camp, Geological Foundation of Oklahoma, Tom Love Innovation Hub, Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma and First Robotics.
A handful of OKC Dodgers players and coaches were also on hand, helping with hitting and throwing instruction on the field, as well as signing autographs and posing for photos with attendees.
Participation in the MVP Program was initially only open to Oklahoma City Public Schools in 2017.
After a successful start, the program expanded in 2018 to include additional metro-area classrooms in the Mid-Del, Putnam City, Edmond and Norman school districts.
The program experienced growth of more than 200 percent from year one to year two, and was available to all elementary schools throughout Oklahoma for the first time in 2019.
“Devon Energy is committed to helping communities inspire young people to pursue an interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects by working with schools and community organizations to enhance access to STEM education,” said Christina Rehkop, manager of community affairs for Devon Energy.
“Partnering with the OKC Dodgers for the MVP Program provided an ideal opportunity to further this goal.”
The OKC Dodgers MVP Program will resume in September for the 2019–20 school year.
Teachers seeking additional information about the OKC Dodgers MVP Program and how to participate in the fourth year of the program may contact Katy White at katy.white@okcdodgers.com.
