The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SHE had a promising career as a track and field athlete, but after going off to school, Lauren Charlton-Szczygiel has changed her focus and is now giving back to Michigan State University as a mentor and coach.

Charlton Szczygiel, the oldest daughter of Dave and Laura Charlton, is a third year PhD student at Michigan State University where she currently works with the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports.

She received her bachelor’s degree in sport psychology and biology from Michigan State University and is a certified youth track and field coach with a bachelor’s degree in sport psychology and biology.

Although she only competes as a form of recreation, Charlton-Szczygiel, whose research interests include coaching, positive youth development, athletic programme development and evaluation, is now working as the YATA’s athletic coordinator for the 2016-2017 year.

YATA - Youth Advancement Through Athletics (YATA) - is a multi-faceted youth development programme designed to reduce court-involved youth’s risk for re-offending through their involvement in strength-based, holistic 15-week mentorships, athletics (e.g., basketball), community engagement (e.g., Greater Lansing Food Bank volunteers), and career-driven activities (e.g., resume building, interview preparation). Additionally, the programme hosts Christmas parties, sports banquets, and team outings to celebrate and acknowledge the participants’ achievements.

“I had interviewed to be a mentor in the programme but after seeing my résumé and the experience I’ve had working with kids they invited me to apply for a staff position,” said Charlton-Szczygiel.

Since taking on her new role, Charlton-Szczygiel said it has been an exciting journey. “It’s been a learning experience for sure, considering that the team we work with is a basketball team and I don’t really have experience in that sport, I’ve had to do a lot of learning on the go,” she said.

“Asking questions, meeting new people. But I feel that I am off to a good start and that I can contribute a lot to the programme.”

YATA was founded in 2011 by Michigan State University students Marva Goodson, MS and Jayme Danzig, MSW, under the direction of distinguished professor Dr William Davidson and consultant Sean Hankins, MSW.

The programme operates in collaboration with Michigan State University and the 30th Judicial Circuit Court, and strives to provide participating youth with access to community resources to fulfill unmet needs and tools for self-advocacy.

In its 5 years of operation the program has designed 75 targeted interventions for court-involved youth and provided a corresponding number of MSU undergraduate students (mentors) with valuable social service field experience.

As a Bahamian, Charlton-Szczygiel said she intend to get the programme started in the Bahamas to help benefit our local athletes.

“One of my main goals is to make sure that everything that I learn while I’m working here in the US can be transferred back home,” she said. “You know, with the crime rate being where it is, I think that there is a huge need for programmes to help kids see that they have so many options in life, to help keep them out of trouble, and to connect them with people that can be positive influences in their lives.

“It’s something that my parents have both worked towards as well. Star Trackers is all about giving back to the community and helping kids get an education through their athletic talents.”

Charlton-Szczygiel, however, said she have her obligation to complete at Michigan State first.

My major plans for this year are to help recruit undergraduates to be a part of the programme. We’ve already got some top-notch students,” she said. “Later on, once the basketball season starts it will be my job to set up games and to help run the tournaments.

“Mainly, its my job to be a positive influence in these kid’s lives so I will be there cheering them on at practice and at every game they go to. Every kid that gets their high school degree, gets a job, or chooses to go to higher education is a huge success.”

During her tenure at Michigan State University, Charlton-Szczygiel said she couldn’t ask for a better experience.

“It’s been great! MSU has given me such a wonderful opportunity,” she stated. “I met my husband (Ed Szczygiel) here who is also getting his PhD and I am being paid to go to graduate school, grow my expertise, and impact the community in positive ways.”

And even though she’s still active at school, Charlton-Szczygiel said she really miss competing in athletics, but she’s excited about giving back as a coach and mentor.

“I try to stay involved any way that I can. I went to Barbados a few years ago and got my Level I IAAF Coaching Certification,” she stressed. “I’ve coached a high school team here in East Lansing. And I am still training and try to compete in amateur competitions when I can. I may not be as fit as I was, but I’ve never lost the love of the sport.”

Charlton-Szcygiel, however, is still experiencing the success of the sport through her younger sisters, Devynne, an Olympic hurdler qualifier at and Anthaya, who is charting her own path as a sprinter/long jumper at St Augustine’s College.

“I can’t begin to describe how proud I am of both of them,” she said. “Even though Devynne was unfortunately unable to compete in Rio this year, I still brag about her and her accomplishments, she has so much time left and I’ve already started saving up for my husband and I to go to Tokyo in 2020.

“And it is such a joy to watch Anthaya progress in her training. She’s only 13, but you can just see how much she loves the sport and she has so much talent.”

Charlton-Szczygiel credits her success to the tremendous success she has received from her parents, Dave and Laura Charlton.

“Even though I don’t compete, they are always excited to hear about a paper I may have published on how my students are doing in the classes that I teach,” she explained. “They gave me such a strong start in life, I couldn’t have asked for more.

“And they’ve instilled in me a passion to work in the community and be a blessing to those around me. I really have to credit them with me love of working with kids and giving back.”

Charlton-Szczygiel, a former athlete at St Augustine’s College and with the Star Trackers Track Club, is certainly making the best of her college experience, even if it’s outside of the realm of competing.