You never know who you might meet in the morning car rider line.

Thursday mornings this spring, Lexington Two elementary school students at Congaree, Springdale, and Wood are having their car doors opened by Airport High School athletes from the baseball, softball, golf, tennis, track, and soccer teams. 

It’s a great way for the district’s youngest learners to start the day off right – with waves, big smiles, and a cheerful hello from the same high schoolers they see competing on Airport’s athletic courts and fields. 

Lexington Two’s tight-knit community means the district’s older students from Airport as well as Brookland-Cayce High School engage in a number of activities to have positive interactions with younger students, from attending their performances, to participating in lunch buddy and reading buddy programs, to opening doors for car riders, and more.

“Each week during the sports season, Airport athletes travel out to local elementary schools to interact with our future Eagles,” said Airport Athletics Director Shane Fidler. “Opening doors in the car rider line, high-fiving and giving encouraging words to start the day are essential for our student-athletes to give back to those who will come next.”

Below:

Members of Airport’s softball team open car doors on a recent morning at Springdale Elementary. Riley Koellner, a member of Airport’s softball team, opens a car door in the morning dropoff line at Congaree Elementary. Members of Airport’s softball team pose on a recent morning. A member of Airport’s boys golf team opens a car door at Wood Elementary.