ACES at Winter Park!

That was one student’s reaction on Saturday, September 10, when a group of ACES students from Olson Middle School in north Minneapolis visited the Minnesota Vikings, an ACES Partner in Education, at the Vikings' headquarters and training facility in Winter Park.

Students rubbed elbows with virtually the entire team, including Percy Harvin, Jared Allen, Donovan McNabb, and Peterson. First things first though, upon arrival at Winter Park, students were greeted by Brad Madson, Vikings Executive Director of Community Relations, and Defensive Line Coach Karl Dunbar.

“Woah . . . he’s big!” observed a sixth-grade ACES student after shaking Coach Dunbar’s hand.

Brad then led the excited middle schoolers to the cafeteria, where they got to meet with and ask questions of the Vikings Information Technology Specialist, Director of Food Operations (who told them which of the Vikings had a healthy diet and which ones ate a lot of junk food!), a member of the Video Department, and the Head of Security.

After the Q&A session with Vikings staff, the students went on a tour of the offices that ended with them sitting around the conference table in the office of Zygi Wilf, Vikings Owner/Chairman.

“It was really neat sitting around the conference table in the owner’s office. I felt like an executive!” exclaimed one of the students.

The students were then led down to the in-door practice field to watch the Vikings run through their plays before their first regular season game, against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday. When practice was complete, the Vikings chatted, signed autographs, and posed for pictures with the students.

ACES Volunteers/Special Event Coordinator Anna Seifert was also very excited, “I think the students really enjoyed getting a behind-the-scenes look at the Vikings organization. It was clear that this experience really got them thinking about the other jobs available in pro sports that don’t have ‘professional athlete’ as a requirement!”

Seventh-grade ACES student best summed-up the exciting experience. “Thanks very much, Vikings! The ACES students and staff had a blast!”