UC, Reds: Heroes who make a difference

In conjunction with the Cincinnati Reds and Cincinnati Reds Community Fund, UC played host to 49 high school baseball and softball players primarily from Cincinnati Public Schools for five days this summer as part of the second consecutive “Home Base” camp. While experiencing life as a college student by day, the students honed their athletic chops at the P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy by night. 

“Home Base focuses on a wide range of experiences such as ACT college test prep classes, leadership training and so much more,” said Kathie Maynard, UC associate dean for education innovations and community partnerships, after last year’s inaugural camp. 

“What makes this program special is how it develops the students’ mind, body and soul. Too often, programs will focus on individual skills training such as just sports or academics or only on social, emotional learning. But this program really blends all of those, and the diversity within the programming allows us to address the needs of the students holistically.”

The program’s positive urban impact aligns with the university's strategic plan, Next Lives Here. In an effort to significantly increase the number of UC graduates from the Cincinnati Public Schools, UC continues to enhance pipeline programs, mentoring innovative research and academic support services.

And to help the students exceed further than they can imagine, each participant is provided with a mentor to help them.

The players also participated in daily yoga and mindfulness training in UC’s African American Cultural and Resource Center to help develop better long-term control and focus on their academics. By late afternoon, the students were shuttled each day to the Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy on East Seymour Avenue.

“This experience is more than just baseball, it’s about learning to talk to people and learning life skills and how to be a leader,” says Withrow High School student Ke'juan McDaniel-Watts. “You get the whole life experience here.”

UC colleges and departments:


• College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services 
• College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning 
• Carl H. Lindner College of Business 
• College of Allied Health Sciences 
• College of Engineering and Applied Science 
• Center for Community Engagement 

The above provided hands-on experiences with their identified area of academic interest. Ten resident mentors and several UC student ambassadors also served as on-campus chaperones. 

• UC alum Gerald Owens facilitated the professional attire seminar

• UC Communiversity, provided instructors for ACT test preparation classes 



Major League Baseball:

• Cincinnati Reds community fund, 
• Major League Baseball 
• MLB Youth Development Foundation 
• MLB Players Association  

These baseball organizations provided on-the-field baseball training, Home Base funding, instructors for mindfulness yoga, business etiquette and other self-improvement classes.

As part of the complete experience, students sharpened their athletic skills through intensive training at the Reds Youth Academy from Reds personnel including retired players Tom Browning, Dmitri Young and Billy Hatcher. Women benefited from such softball greats as Crystl Bustos, A.J. Andrews and Amanda “AK” Kamekona. 

Largely the brainchild of former Red Joe Morgan of the Big Red Machine, the academy was designed to facilitate the Reds’ RBI program. RBI offers area boys and girls ages 7 to 18 the opportunity to participate in baseball and softball clinics and character development programming and even academic tutoring and vocational training, all free of charge. 

Within the 33,000-square-foot indoor facility, there is a turf field, batting cages, pitching tunnels, a weight room and classrooms for students to receive tutoring. Outdoors, the academy has four fields, including a small stadium with a press box.