Think back to when you were a kid. Maybe there was a coach who pushed you a little harder, a teammate who believed in you, or an athlete you looked up to from afar. Those moments don’t always register at the time, but looking back, you realize they helped shape who you became.
That’s the ripple effect Sun Devil Beach Volleyball set in motion at its recent Building Brilliant Futures event on Arizona State’s West Valley campus.
Nine of the team’s student-athletes and four coaches spent the day with nearly two dozen middle schoolers, teaching them the basics of beach volleyball on the sand. Then, they moved into a classroom session with a simple but powerful theme: never stop growing.
Inspiring the next generation with Sun Devil Beach Volleyball
Following a successful 2024 event of the same name, this year’s event generated even more interest and excitement, and rightfully so. The message the net casts captures a large audience, starting at the highest levels of ASU’s leadership.
“Events like these perfectly demonstrate how ASU lives its charter mission. When young students see themselves reflected in our athletes, they begin to imagine new possibilities and start dreaming of opportunities they may never have known existed,” said Regina Matos, ASU West’s Dean of Students.
“By connecting with role models, they not only discover a new sport and learn new skills in the sport, but they also develop a sense of belonging, purpose, and see what their own hard work can become.”
The team’s head coach, Kristen Glattfelder, echoed that sentiment, noting that the benefits go both ways. While the young students gain role models and an idea of what their future could be, her student-athletes can bond as teammates while growing as leaders and mentors.
“Our team is made up of a great group of student-athletes with diverse journeys. Many of these girls have overcome challenges, transferred from other schools or faced family struggles. Yet they’ve found a place to belong and play the sport they love while getting a great education,” noted Glattfelder.
“Their stories show that life isn’t always perfect, but resilience can lead to incredible opportunities.”
Families find connection and confidence
With such an inspirational message sent out to families and youth groups through schools in the West Valley, spots for the event filled up fast and brought in a diverse group of participants, including boys and girls, some who have played volleyball and some who have never played before.
One participant with some experience was Brielle Tadeo, a volleyball-loving fifth grader who has attended volleyball summer camps.
“She loves volleyball,” said her mother, Michele. “Seeing college athletes doing something she loves gives her a sense of what’s possible.”
On the other side of the net was eighth grader Pyper Kellerman, whose mom drove from Gilbert after a last-minute cancellation opened a spot.
“We uprooted the entire day to be here, but we felt the drive from Gilbert was worth it. The traffic is no joke, but we made it,” Michelle Kellerman laughed. “She’s shown interest in volleyball before, but hasn’t had the drive to start. She needed this push, so I’m so happy to be here.”
Moving from Connecticut two years ago, Kellerman added that this event would help Pyper grow in more ways than one.
“I love the idea of her being on a team because teamwork teaches kids valuable lessons. Even with losing, sport keeps them engaged and helps them build character. Busy kids are good kids, and I want her to latch onto something that helps her grow.”
Reflecting on her own experiences, Kellerman added, “I can remember how impressionable I was back then, and something like this would have made a considerable impression on me. Seeing her excited reminds me how powerful these opportunities are and how grateful I am that she can experience them.”
From screen time to team time
A handful of parents, including Kellerman, also noted how sports are helping kids reduce their screen time.
“Kids today are growing up so differently. They spend too much time sitting behind screens and not enough time in sports or activities that teach them social skills. Being part of a team is almost like medicine: It helps them learn to navigate conflicts, communicate and grow in ways they truly need.”
At the end of the night, a father laughed while admitting to the room, “I couldn’t get this kid out of his room. Now look at him. He’s here! I wish you’d do this every week. I’d pay for it.” His son, of course, stood at the door with the ‘Dad, you’re embarrassing me’ look displayed clearly on his face.
Student-athletes grow by giving back
Less embarrassing and more embracing, the student-athletes and kids got to make meaningful connections.
“During the classroom session, a girl was whispering in my ear about how she was struggling with math,” recalled Reagan Hope, a graduate student pursuing her master’s in communication. “They all started shy, but to see them come out of their shells, share their struggles and connect with us was just really interesting to see, along with that dynamic change in their personalities in such a short time.”
“It just shows how giving back to the community fills your cup. It’s a privilege, and the energy and joy you take away make it all worthwhile,” Hope added.
Meanwhile, Hope’s teammate, sophomore Zoë Taylor, saw the event as a natural extension of her upbringing. With parents who founded and ran nonprofits in Florida, Taylor followed in their footsteps by creating her own organization, Dig Deep. This program, similar to Building Brilliant Futures, also introduces kids to beach volleyball.
Noting the importance of two-way communication, she said, “We get to help these kids build self-confidence and self-esteem, and, in doing so, empower them to practice discipline, hard work, and determination. These are things that we work on every day. So why can’t we share that with others, you know?
“It all reminds me how blessed we are, and how important it is to give kids joy and confidence,” Taylor added.
The power of community
When all is said and done, there’s a sense of community at the end.
“Community isn’t just a word. It’s a circle of giving and growing. When student-athletes step into the community, they inspire local youth, give back, and show that success is built together. The impact goes both ways: The community supports our athletes, our athletes support the community, and together we create real, meaningful change,” said Josh Cole, ASU West’s Student Body President.
What’s next for ASU and the Building Brilliant Futures program?
The excitement isn’t slowing down. The team has upcoming sessions planned at ASU’s Tempe campus this fall, on October 1 and 21, on the Tempe campus, with hopes to expand further across the Valley.
“I’d love to make this a regular thing,” Coach Glattfelder said. “Not everyone can make it to Tempe, so bringing programs to different campuses gives more families access. The demand is clearly there.”
As the sun set on the West Valley campus that day, one thing was clear: Building Brilliant Futures was about far more than volleyball. It was about confidence. Community. And a vision of what’s possible when young people see role models who believe in them.
And maybe, years from now, one of those middle schoolers will look back on this day the way Zoë and Reagan remember theirs. Not as a volleyball clinic, but as the moment someone helped set their future in motion.
Have a Sun Devil story to share? Fork it over to Meredith Cunningham, digital content manager for sundevils.com, at mcunni43@asu.edu.