Benton Harbor High School students gifted with a super field trip to the big game

BENTON HARBOR, Mich.—A lucky group of Benton Harbor High School students are taking the field trip of a lifetime!

This morning, six students, a couple of chaperones and the superintendent of Benton Harbor Area Schools set off to Los Angeles-bound for Super Bowl LVI.

The students were gifted the opportunity by Dr. Eric Thomas who workshopped with students last October and was impressed by the students and the work done by the school.

Thomas incentivized students with Super Bowl tickets if they followed the “playbook for success” which required the students to keep their grades up, maintain a good attendance record and read outside of the classroom.

So, students like senior Azizah Muhammad put in the work.

“It was some work because I had to come to school on time. I had to start reading more and get a planner. School is easy if you’re dedicated then it’ll be easy,” ,” said Muhammad.

Students were most excited to get out of town and enjoy some sunshine. Some were just excited to travel.

“I’m most excited just to go get on a plane. I have never been on a plane, so it really just starts when we get to the airport, said senior, Michael Kirby.

For student athletes, it’s a chance to see some role models in action.

“I mean I’m a football player myself, and to go see other football players that have made it to the highest of the top is just going to be very exciting,” said Kirby.

Superintendent, Dr. Andrae Townsel is joining the students on the trip. He’s happy to travel with the students and admires their resiliency after facing the COVID-19 pandemic, Benton Harbor water crisis and a near school shutdown prior to Townsel’s arrival. He says that the goal of this opportunity was to enhance the educational experience, and motivate his students.

“If you do the right thing, you can do good things in life. I think that’s the message and a lot of the young people are super motivated,” said Townsel.