Another Home Run for Leading Off Program
The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, in partnership with Globe Life and Arlington ISD, celebrated another successful year of the Leading Off Program by welcoming students in the program to Globe Life Field for a Rangers baseball game last week. The Leading Off Program is an initiative focused on developing leadership, confidence, and community engagement among Arlington ISD students.
Each year, the program engages more than 60 students in grades seven and eight from select Arlington ISD junior high schools. This year’s participating campuses included Barnett, Boles, Ousley, and Young junior high schools. Throughout the school year, students took part in leadership workshops, community service projects, and educational field trips designed to encourage personal growth and civic responsibility.
One of the highlights of the program is the student capstone project, where participants identify a community need and create a nonprofit organization designed to address it. Students developed detailed plans focused on fundraising, sustainability, target audiences, and long-term community impact. Then they got to present their capstone projects at Globe Life Field before attending the baseball game.
Barnett Junior High Takes Top Honors
This year’s first-place project came from Barnett with “The Bear Necessities,” a student-created nonprofit dedicated to ensuring every student has access to basic hygiene products and essential resources.
“The mission of The Bear Necessities is to make sure every student has access to basic hygiene products, no matter their situation,” the student group shared during its presentation. “We aim to help people feel clean, confident, and supported by providing essential items and creating a community where everyone has what they need.”
Barnett students proposed fundraising efforts and grant opportunities to support a five- to ten-year sustainability plan, with a goal of expanding access to hygiene essentials across the student population.
“Students truly poured their hearts into this project,” said Kayla Flowers, an intervention teacher at Barnett. “Watching them create a nonprofit, work together, and confidently present their ideas was incredible. Winning was exciting, but seeing their growth, leadership, and passion was the biggest reward.”
Thanks to The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation and Globe Life for another great year of Leading Off.