High turnout expected for 2nd Annual ‘Field Trip With the Griffs’
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- Missouri Western State University will host its 2nd Annual "Education Day" basketball games, bringing together area elementary schools to immerse in a basketball gameday experience.
The games will take place on Monday, Dec. 15 and Tuesday, Dec. 16, with 11 a.m. tip-offs for both games.
An estimated 5,000 students from 37 area elementary schools will be in attendance.
The Dec. 15 game will feature the Griffon women vs. Livin' The Dream. The Griffon men will take on Avila University on Dec. 16.
The event follows up and doubles down on 2024's inaugural "Education Day", which saw more than 2,100 students from 17 area schools pack the MoWest's Looney Complex for a Griffon men's game.
"We knew based on the energy and excitement of last year's game that we had established a new tradition," said Ryan Menley, MoWest's senior associate athletic director for external relations. "Expanding Education Day to a two-day event allows us to expand our reach beyond St. Joseph and welcome our friends from the surrounding counties."
Menley said the response has been overwhelming.
The women's "SJSD Education Day" game is presented by Lehr Construction and will feature select grades from all 17 St. Joseph School District elementary and middle schools. Select grades and classes earned the field trip as part of SJSD's attendance initiative.
The men's "Midland Empire Education Day" game is presented by Moffet Nursery and Garden Shop and will welcome 2,700 students from 20 elementary and middle schools from eight surrounding counties.
Admission is free to all participating schools. Each student will receive a free rally towel, which will also double as a free season ticket to all MoWest sporting events for the remainder of the 2025-2026 school year.
Each game will feature a halftime performance by the Kansas City Disc Dogs and kid-centric music by DJ Swig.
Concession stands will be closed, as all students will be bringing their lunch. Hazel's Coffee will be hand-selling beverages to all adults in attendance.
A limited number of tickets are available for anyone looking to attend the Dec. 15 game. Tickets will be available for pre-purchase online at gogriffons.com beginning Tuesday, Dec. 9. The Dec. 16 game is sold out.
Due to the unique experience of the games, Gold Coat season ticket holders will have open seating in the balcony, as kids will be present in the lower bowl of the MWSU Fieldhouse.
