Photo Release September 23, 2013

Summit Christian Academy 1500 SW Jefferson Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 Contact: Chantele Ferguson (816) 525.1480

Summit Christian Academy Welcomes (Lee’s Summit, MO) – Summit Christian Academy (SCA) recently welcomed retired Major League Willie Aikens to speak to a 6th grade class.

Willie Mays Aikens, one of baseball’s top hitters, played for the from 1979 to 1983. Aikens’ performance in the 1980 with the Royals made him the first player in World Series history to two home runs in the same game twice during the World Series. However, the legend’s struggle with drugs and alcohol led to jail time, and in 1984, the Royals traded Aikens to the , where he played until 1985.

“This is the first time a professional athlete has come to our class for show-and-tell,” said Mrs. Green. SCA 6th grader Clayton Leighty asked Aikens, a long-time family friend, to share with the class.

For Aikens, sharing with students about his experiences as a player included much of his experiences off the field. “Poor choices” and drug abuse led to heartaches and a 20-year prison sentence for Aikens.

“I made some bad decisions in my life,” said Aikens. “You have to know that every decision leads to consequences. Now is the time to decide to make good choices,” said Aikens.

“It’s hard to hear about his life before,” said Betsy Keilers, mother of Leighty and Aikens’ friend. “I just know the man he is now, and he’s a good man and a good husband and father.” Keilers and Aikens met at a Kansas City Royals event for former Royals players in 2009.

Aikens shared with the class that while serving his 20-year sentence, he changed his life.

“While in prison, I read my Bible and recommitted my life to Jesus Christ. I hung around men who were doing the right things,” said Aikens. “I’ve been clean for more than 20 years. That’s longer than you (students) have been alive. It’s never too early to decide to do what’s right,” Aikens said.

Photo Caption: Retired Major league Baseball player Willie Aikens provides an autograph for SCA 6th grade student Jonathan Stepp as Clayton Leighty (sitting) looks on. Aikens often speaks at schools about his experiences as a Major League Baseball player. Aikens returned to baseball in 2011 as a minor league coach. He now works as a hitting coach for the Kansas City Royals.

Summit Christian Academy (SCA) is an independent, nondenominational Christian school serving over 685 preschool through high school students. Established in 1989, SCA is located on a 36-acre campus and holds dual accreditation through North Central Association and Association of Christian Schools International.

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