Impact

Network Impact by the Numbers

SEA students across the US

Million dollars invested in SEA students annually

%

Of long term participants graduate high school and enroll in college

High school graduates

Million dollars in college scholarships awarded to SEA students

%

Of SEA students earn a college degree in 6 years

Network History

The history of the Squash + Education Alliance (SEA) began in 1996 with SquashBusters in Boston, the first after-school program to use squash as a vehicle for change in the lives of low-income students. The model proved successful and was soon replicated in Harlem, the Bronx, Philadelphia, and Chicago, bringing squash, academic, and personal support to hundreds of students across the country. Strong community partnerships were formed with universities such as Harvard, Columbia, Yale, Northeastern, Fordham, and Johns Hopkins. In 2005, SEA was created as an umbrella organization to support current programs and launch new ones. The SEA network has grown to include 20 member programs around the United States, and four international affiliates, which together enroll over 2,500 students.

In September 2017, Hope Blinkoff Lynch, Deputy Director of Baltimore SquashWise (Baltimore’s SEA program), relocated to her home city to launch and lead 716 Squash. In Spring of 2018, 716 Squash developed two school partnerships with West Hertel Academy and West Buffalo Charter School and began recruiting 4th and 5th grade students to join the program. In November 2018, after completing an application and evaluation, 716 Squash became the 19th official member program of SEA. 716 Squash currently enrolls 34 middle school students. As 716 Squash nears the start of its 4th year, the first recruited class of 5th graders began high school in Fall of 2021.

Program Model

Long-Term:

Students join 716 Squash in 4th or 5th grade and are supported through high school, college, and career. 716 Squash will assist students and families with pursuing their best-fit high school and post-secondary options.

After school:

Students attend sessions at least two days after school. At each session, students spend a minimum of one hour in the classroom with an academic coordinator and volunteer tutors working on homework and literacy. Each student also spends a minimum of one hour on the squash courts working with part-time and volunteer squash coaches, receiving instruction and completing and fitness activities.

Weekends:

Students participate in additional academic and squash sessions on the weekends, as well as attend community service outings, cultural field trips, and travel to squash tournaments and college visits.

Summer:

Students experience life-changing summer travel opportunities to sleepaway squash camps, squash tournaments on college campuses, service trips, leadership courses, and academic camps. Students from urban squash programs have earned summer scholarships to intensive academic summer programs at Taft, Exeter, Hotchkiss and Miss Porters. SEA students have earned squash camp opportunities at Deerfield, Lawrenceville, Stanford University, the University of Virginia, Princeton University, and many more.