Student Heroes: Squash Helps Detroit Students Raise Their Grades

DETROIT (WWJ) -- If you were to ask anyone what they think of when word "squash" is used, most people would say a fruit or vegetable. But for 9th graders Armani Taylor and Starnisha Ramsey of University Yes Academy, it's a game that is helping kids in the classroom, thanks to Racquet Up Detroit.

Taylor, who has been in the program for four years now, says it has helped her increase her grade point average dramatically.

"I started off with a 2.5 GPA," Taylor said. "As I went up in middle school and high school, now, I have graduated with a 4.0 from 8th grade and right now my GPA is 3.6."

The program, which was founded in 2010 by former University of Michigan graduate Derek Aguirre, introduces kids to the game that is not widely known, and also gives them the focus they need on their studies.

"The first things kids realize when they join the program is that this is not an after-school sports team," Aquirre said. "They're working on homework, they're getting help with literacy. The sport is very important to what we do, but every day they're with us they're spending equal time in the classroom as they are on the squash courts."

Ramsey has also seen her GPA raise during her time with the program -- currently a 3.8 -- and that admitted that she almost didn't try out.

"When we had tryouts, they just popped up in our gym," Ramsey said. "Then they showed us a racquet and a ball. It wasn't even bouncy, it was just so small -- I couldn't hit the call or nothing. I'm like, 'should I, or should I not,' so then I just started playing and I got used to it."

Ramsey is second on the team to only Taylor in rankings, but both girls are part of the group "Best Path," which consists of an elite group of students who have risen to the top because of their commitment to the program and help coach and mentor the younger students.

Aguirre said that they're truly what this program is about.

"Starnisha and Armani -- we call them 'The Originals,' -- the kids who said on Day One that they wanted to try this, put their hand up when nobody else in their family and their school and really in their immediate community knew what squash was and let alone was playing it" Aguirre said. "So they really were the pioneers."

Congratulations Starnisha and Armani, you're truly Student Heroes!

WWJ Newsradio 950 will run a weekly Student Hero feature. If you know someone who could be labeled a student hero and would like to nominate them for consideration, email us at wwjnewsradio@gmail.com.