California class, Notre Dame share connection

NOTRE DAME, Ind. -

In Notre Dame's famed Golden Dome, the significance of this building means more to Allison Silva's fourth grade class than the average person.

"It's not just a field trip, it's taking them from their reality, to the possibility of their dreams" Allison Silva said.

In Notre Dame's famed Golden Dome, the significance of this building means more to Allison Silva's fourth grade class than the average person.

"It represents us dreaming big, working hard and being a good person" student Nyah Buntun said.

The 30 students come from the Taylor Leadership Academy in Stockton, California. 

These students come from low income families, and Silva's goal is to prepare them for college.

"A lot of these kids are going to be the first ones in their family to go to college" Silva said. 

But she took it a step further, Each class would pick a college as their identity, and Notre Dame immediately stood out.

"The entire class really fell in love with the little Irish symbol, they had never seen it, they didn't know it existed, they just really loved. I'm all about it, if they're going to own it, it's got to be in their hearts" Silva said.

More than 2100 miles away, the class incorporate Notre Dame into their daily routine, like they're study like a champion sign.

"Every time before we take a test, we slap it" Silva said.

Hoping one they day to slap the real sign.

When Silva told her class they were coming to Notre Dame.

"I was screaming," Amorae Montgomery said. "I was like, 'What! Oh my god!' We were screaming, we were crying."

It's not just the school Silva's kids are inspired by, but the people of Notre Dame.

Nyah Buntun says she admires Deshone Kizer, and not because he's the starting quarterback.

"He dreams big, he works hard and he's a good person. He makes me feel I can do anything i want when I put my mind to it" Buntun said.

It's a whole different world for these fourth graders, with big eyes and big dreams.

"I'm going to go to college.Like Father Ted said, whatever you value be committed to it and let nothing distract you from this goal," Montgomery said.

This trip is much more than a tour of Notre Dame for these kids, it's a chance to dream for something they've never had.

"It's so much bigger than traveling across the country. It's them feeling like if they dream big, it can come true" Silva said.

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