COURTS FOR KIDS
The goal of Purdue’s student-athlete development team is to empower student-athletes through education, entrusting them with the resources needed to succeed while providing entrepreneurship and personal growth opportunities.
This mission is brought to life through Boilermakers Beyond Borders, a service-based cultural immersion program led by Candace Britten (HHS’11) and Kelli Briscoe, both assistant directors of student-athlete development within Purdue Athletics.
The first-of-its-kind travel program offers student-athletes a chance to participate in an international service trip with a nonprofit organization called Courts for Kids. Britten and Briscoe, along with 15 student-athletes and three other staff members, traveled to Waldeck, Costa Rica—a small community of around 500 people—to build a sports court this spring.
“We believe the opportunity to experience life outside of their sport and their country can help our student-athletes grow personally while helping others,” Britten says. “They see a whole different way of living and come back better people and better leaders.”
Britten and Briscoe learned about Courts for Kids at a conference and worked with the John Purdue Club to make it a reality.
In the months leading up to the trip, the duo hosted monthly meetings and social gatherings for participants. One of these meetings involved a collaboration with Purdue’s Latino Cultural Center, where Costa Ricans shared about their culture and taught a traditional dance.
The choice to participate in the Boilermakers Beyond Borders program was an easy one for Olivia McFadden, a senior softball player studying kinesiology.
“Communities around the world can apply for a sports court through Courts for Kids,” she says. “Each community gets to decide what type of court they want, and that court is meant to provide a safe space for children to play. These courts bring the entire community together. I saw it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help others, and I embraced it without hesitation.”
Sabrina Blount, a junior soccer player studying animal science, was more hesitant at first.
“When the program was first announced, I wasn’t planning on applying,” she says. “I knew it would be a great experience, but I thought it was too far outside of my comfort zone. I eventually decided to go for it after several people encouraged me to apply.”
Christopher Huisman, a senior member of the cheer squad studying supply chain and operations management, decided to apply for the program to experience a different culture and help others.
“The growth and gratitude you gain in that period of time is invaluable,” he says. “Waldeck was chosen for this program because the town has such a strong sense of community ownership and involvement. Members of the community were looking for a way to improve the lives of the people who live there, and Courts for Kids helped them make a difference for hundreds of children and families.”
Although there were a lot of unknowns, Britten, Briscoe, and their team embarked on this adventure with big hearts and open minds.
“Our initial arrival in Waldeck was greeted with the local children cheering and saying ‘¡Bienvenidos!’ as we exited our bus,” Huisman says. “The feeling of that heartfelt welcome was indescribable. We were all just so happy.”
Each workday in Waldeck began at 7 a.m. with breakfast—usually consisting of eggs or chicken accompanied by rice, beans, and coffee. After breakfast, the team either played games with the local children or went straight to work, which included helping to load the concrete mixer, moving buckets, and shoveling sand and gravel to build a basketball court for the community.
“Our workdays flew by as we danced and worked to upbeat Spanish music, which seemed to make everything go faster,” McFadden says.
The team took breaks around noon—the hottest part of the day—and 3 p.m., often refreshing themselves with locally grown fruits. Evenings consisted of dinner, games, and dance parties.
“We would finish working on the court for the day and play games with the children in the community,” Huisman says. “The game was almost always soccer, and they kicked our butts!”
Olivia McFadden
Olivia McFadden
Sabrina Blount
Sabrina Blount
Sabrina Blount
Sabrina Blount
Christopher Huisman
Christopher Huisman
The Purdue team brought one of their favorite American traditions—s’mores—to share with the community. In turn, Waldeck locals were eager to show their culture to their guests, especially in the form of food and dancing.
“One of my favorite moments from the trip was learning a dance from the kids in the community,” Huisman says. “It was some of the most fun I had in my life.”
When it was time for the group to return to West Lafayette, they left with full hearts, special memories—and a touch of sunburn.
“It was difficult saying goodbye—seeing everyone come together and express the love that grew between two different cultures in just a week was incredible,” Blount says. “Everyone who lives in Waldeck can enjoy the new basketball court. It may seem like a small thing, but it really increases community engagement and provides an opportunity for people to try something new.”
The trip wasn’t without its challenges. But as the student-athletes faced the tropical heat, navigated language barriers, and adapted to a new environment, they drew on the discipline and mental toughness honed through their sports training.
“As athletes, we’re accustomed to hard work and envisioning success, and this program leverages that mindset to help us discover how our strengths and passions can positively impact others,” McFadden says. “This experience was truly transformative—filled with love, joy, and a deeper sense of purpose.”
Participation in the Boilermakers Beyond Borders program offered a dual reward: creating a lasting impact on the community and experiencing meaningful connections.
“Not only are you able to connect with the community, but you also form friendships with fellow student-athletes who you may not have met otherwise,” Blount says. “I came back from the trip feeling so much gratitude and am more appreciative of everything I have.”
Huisman values the support and guidance participants received.
“I’m so grateful to Kelli and Candace for allowing me to join this group,” he says. “This would not have been possible without them and their passion for student-athlete development. I am proud of our team for representing Purdue and the Boilermaker spirit in the highest capacity.”
CONTINUE THE IMPACT!
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Read more stories from this issue of Purdue Alumnus magazine.
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