Amazing Teens - Adrian Richburg
This Student Earned an "A" as in AWE-INSPIRING!!!!!
By: Bryant Lewis
TeenNewsNet Managing Editor
When I was in 9th grade some of the projects I was assigned included making a cake, dissecting a frog, and writing about my favorite baseball team. Well times have certainly changed!The Rippowam Cisqua School in Bedford New York tasked their 9th graders with a project this past January that was unique to anything I or most High School students were asked to do. The students were challenged with putting together a charity event for their community. For his project, Adrian Richburg, created a basketball tournament, with almost all of the proceeds going to a local recreation center. With the help of area churches, including his own, and a Harlem-based organization, Adrian was able to pull off this tournament with rousing success. TeenNewsNet was there to take in the action and spoke to this amazing teen about this unique endeavor.
TNN: Tell us how you put this all together?
Richburg: It's all for my portfolio project, and I just wanted to give back to the Carver Center because of everything they do for the community. It took a lot of hard work, time and effort. It was very stressful as well, but as you can see, it all came to together, we're having a great time.
TNN: How long did it take for you to put this together?
Richburg: It took about three months to put this together.
TNN: You mentioned that it was stressful, how so?
Richburg: It was stressful in getting teams that were willing to participate in the tournament. Also getting donors as well as the time it took to put this together. But like I said before, it all came out well.
TNN: So what were some of the projects that other classmates worked on?
Richburg: A lot of us do community service, though we don't have to. One of my friends is giving back to a South African orphanage. And I believe she is actually going to go to South Africa and help build orphanages.
TNN: What did your teacher and your mom think about this project?
Richburg: She didn't know much about the Carver Center, but she thought it was a great idea to give back to the kids, the adults who benefit from the Carver Center. And my mom was such a vital part of this and I couldn't have done this without her. She gave me access to her resources to get donors and the teams, and she just put so much time into this. She was like my Administrative Assistant for the past month. I really appreciate her.
TNN: What was your mom's reaction when you told her what you wanted to do?Richburg: She sighed at first, then she said if that's what I wanted to do, let's do it! I know she knew it was going to be a lot of work, but I know she knew it was for a great cause.
We then spoke to Adrian's "Administrative Assistant," also known as his mom, Michelle Richburg, and asked her about the work that went into this project, and how proud she is of him.
TNN: I just have to say WOW! This event is just amazing!
M Richburg: Well we appreciate everyone coming out to support Adrian, he's a good kid, a humble kid that always works hard and anything that he sets his mind to, he becomes committed to. He just worked hard in putting this together. He volunteered here at the Carver Center in the summer of '09 and another time for about a month for the after school program, and he just felt very connected with the kids here. He felt that he didn't see enough of African-American kids in here, so that's why he did this, he wants to still be involved with the after school program, and help bring the community together.
TNN: To bring the people here to participate in this tournament, considering that a couple of the teams aren't from the community is just phenomenal!
M Richburg: Everyone just loves Adrian. His portfolio advisor, Karen Koeppel was very helpful, and he got a lot of support both far and near and again we are just very thankful.
Rev. Natalie R. Wimberly, Pastor of St. Frances AME Zion Church in Port Chester NY gave Adrian high praise for the work he did, and the person he is.
TNN: Let's discuss the work that Mr. Richburg did in putting this tournament together.
Pastor Wimberly: The job that that Adrian did, the planning, the organizing,the follow-through was just phenomenal. The response of the community and the congregation came out to support and encourage him. I think what he has done is brought a sense of unity, a sense of fellowship in the Port Chester community. We've made some new friends, re-established some old relationships, I think this is the start of something big.
TNN: It's truly something to behold to see a 9th grader pull of something of this magnitude.Pastor Wimberly: Adrian is a very unique, bright, warm, caring, friendly young man with a HUGE future ahead of him. And with the gifts that God has given him, there isn't any place on earth that he can't go and and excel. He has that temperament and can relate to any person, any age. Adrian is certainly the apple of my eye, of course so are the other 30 children in the church. But his star is bright, and the hope, the prayer is that he will always be the kind of kid that will encourage the other kids that they can do anything they want to. He will tell them that if I can do it, you all can do it. The gentleness, the finesse that he has in dealing with people is truly a gift.
TNN: I think that Adrian will be a tremendous leader in life if he isn't already.
Pastor Wimberly: His leadership ability is that he is not ashamed to have his faith in God, and is not afraid to share it. It sets an example to the younger children that you can have a walk with the Lord and not be ashamed, and still be cool, still be able to hang. He shows that you can still do Jesus, and still chase your dream.
Ms. Kerry Walsh, who heads the Carver Center, was very pleased that Adrian along with his mom and Rev. Wimberly presented her with the idea. "I was pleasantly surprised at how the day turned out," remarked Walsh. The event was a huge success, with Port Chester's own Girtman Memorial Church winning the tournament. But it wasn't about what team won, it was about the winning attitude of an amazing teen, and the ability to organize an event that benefited his community.
At the time of this writing, Richburg has raised more than $5,500, with more to come including a donation from Knick point guard Chris Duhon.Experience Splash of Ra
