TPS Students Have Day Of Fun With OKC Thunder

A group of Tulsa elementary kids took a break from fall break Friday to take in a special show.

The 4th, 5th and 6th graders were guests of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

They walked into the BOK Center, grabbed a cold drink and a bag of popcorn.

Nearly 200 Tulsa elementary kids took time off from fall break at the invitation of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The kids were all selected because their grades are doing better and their teachers see big potential.

"It's always wonderful to have positive role models to talk with our students. It just gives them another extra boost to say that someone else cares about them," said Hawthorne Elementary Principal Estella Bitson.

10/18/2012 Related Story: OKC Thunder Makes Stop In Bixby For Blue-White Scrimmage

The program consisted of a meet and greet with Thunder TV announcers Grant Long and Brian Davis.

"Find someplace within yourself to dig a little bit deeper to keep moving on to your destination," Long told the kids.

The message is all about getting the kids to dream big and go for it.

"[We] sort of combine a more serious message with fun and maybe the way we package it is a way that reaches these kids," Davis said.

That fun came in the form of Rumble the Bison. The Thunder mascot entertained the kids with his athletic prowess and magic tricks.

The Thunder organization said they understand they're civic responsibility, and that's why when they do special events like the preseason game Friday night in Tulsa, that it's important to reach out to the local community.

"I think it's a good thing that they invited us to come see them," said 10-year-old Erica Lawson.

Not a bad way to spend a Friday afternoon: A fun show from Rumble can make a little inspiration go a long way.