WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley University recently hosted 125 middle-schoolers from the Boston Public Schools as part of the Boston Scores Program.
 
This was the fourth Scores event since our strategic partnership was announced in 2024.
 
Bentley hosted 40 high school students for a campus tour and soccer clinic in the kickoff event in March 2024. Last October, 45 high school students attended both a women's and men's soccer game and participated in a clinic. In November, 55 middle school girls were guests of Bentley at the Cub in the Arena for a half-day event that included a tour, a presentation on First-Gen opportunities at Bentley, a session of girl's/women's leadership by the Center for Women in Business, and an interactive Entrepreneurial session facilitated by our Management Department where the students were able to work on business plans that they brought with them. The success of our November session led Scores to suggest the April session.
 
Bentley University President E. LaBrent Chrite kicked off the April 15th session by welcoming Scores student-athletes and staff after five busloads arrived at LaCava and completed school tours. Two Bentley students presented their start-up business plans and did Q&A sessions with the middle schoolers. The group was divided into two groups, including one that stayed in the Arena to work in teams with Bentley student volunteers on their own start-up plans. The second group participated in a soccer clinic jointly run by our women's and men's soccer coaches. 
 
Feedback from Boston Scores Executive Director John Maconga was that the event was another huge success. 
 
"Our partnership with Bentley University exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary collaboration to inspire and equip young leaders," said Maconga. "From presenting their social entrepreneurship projects to Bentley faculty to training with the university's soccer teams, our middle schoolers experienced a day that blended innovation, mentorship, and athletic inspiration. We're incredibly grateful to Bentley for opening their campus and their hearts to our students - it was a transformative experience that will leave a lasting impact."
 
"It's so exciting to see how much this partnership has grown in the last year alone - it's a powerful example of how much athletics and academics can come together to create meaningful impact," said Grace Carter, Bentley's Manager of Student-Athlete Development. "These students gain early exposure to a college environment, while our student-athletes grow as mentors and leaders.  It's a mutually enriching experience and I can't thank Boston Scores enough as well as our students outside of the athletics community who shared their businesses with us."