Fifth- and Sixth-Grade Students and Their Families Invited to Hancock's Bulldog Bound Basketball Bonanza on Sat. Dec. 9

Allan Hancock College invites fifth- and sixth-grade students and their families to cheer on the men's and women's basketball teams this weekend. The college will host the Bulldog Bound Basketball Bonanza on Saturday, December 9, inside Joe White Memorial Gymnasium on the Santa Maria campus. Fifth- and sixth-grade students and their family members will receive free admission to games scheduled for 1, 3 and 5 p.m. inside the gym.

The basketball event is part of the college's Bulldog Bound program, the first step in The Hancock Promise. Bulldog Bound focuses on creating a college-going culture among area children and their families by introducing them to the college and the available programs and services. The Hancock Promise provides high school graduates with the opportunity to receive their first year of tuition for free at Allan Hancock College starting in summer 2018.

"We want to show the fifth- and sixth-graders and their families the endless opportunities that exist at Allan Hancock College," said Kim Ensing, associate dean and Hancock's athletic director. "We hope they will have fun cheering on the Bulldogs and envision themselves as a Hancock student or student athlete."

Each student will receive a commemorative gift, Bulldog Bound lanyard and Bulldog Bound ID card. They can also participate in special halftime events.

The 1 and 3 p.m. games will be the third-place and championship games of the Lady Bulldog Classic, the annual basketball tournament hosted by the Hancock women's basketball program. The Hancock men's basketball team will face Cerritos at 5 p.m.

"Student athletes love the support of the community and really feed off the energy of the crowd," added Ensing. "We hope the children and their families come enjoy a high-level of basketball and provide a home-court advantage."

Fresh off its finest season in nearly 20 years that included an appearance in the playoffs, the women's basketball team is off to a 4-3 start. The men's basketball team has won five of its last six games and six of nine overall. Both basketball programs plan to put on a show for the next generation of Bulldogs.

The college held a Bulldog Bound event in the fall during a Hancock football game.

For more information about the event and The Hancock Promise, visit click here.