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yeing a plan to give back to their peers, a handful of Elizabethton High School students decided to do something for the future soccer players coming through the ranks.

The love of sports runs rampant through Cyclone Nation, especially for Bartleby Program students Evan Carter, Jaxton Holly, Kaylen Shell and Nico Ashley. For the fall semester community involvement class offered through Bartleby, the group decided to work on a project that involves remodeling a building near LaPorte Track on the high school campus and turning it into a locker room for the EHS soccer program.

“This building is just sitting here and nobody was using it … why not turn make it into a locker room,” Carter said. “It would be for both boys and girls to use all year.”

During a tour of the building on Wednesday, the group gave a tour of the building’s current state and what the project will include for the upcoming semester. The plan is to replace the roof of the building, repaint the inside and outside of the building, add roughly 15 lockers, new air conditioning and remodel the bathrooms by adding a new sink and toilet.

With the project just now getting off the ground, the students added they are in the process of raising money, donations and gathering materials to help accomplish the goal.

As of Wednesday, the group added the Melvin Simmons with Melvin Simmons Roofing has already offered support to the project and will handle roofing improvements.

While explaining the details of the project, Carter added the group is currently reaching out to the public for those interested in supporting the new locker room. Individuals can contact the main office at by calling (423) 547-8015 x1501 to contribute to the new locker room.

“Any material or monetary donations would be greatly appreciated,” Carter said. “Anyone who also wants to sponsor the project can leave their name and number with the front office and we will get back to you personally.”

And those that contribute will also have their mark left with the new facility. Carter mentioned they will recognize those that contribute to the project on the new locker room with signage.

Shell and Holly know all too well about the current soccer situation. Whether it is during the fall with Shell and Lady Cyclones or the spring with Holly and the boys program, they both talked about how important it would be to let the program have their own locker room and adequate storage area.

And the opportunity came around thanks in part to the second year installment of the Bartleby Program, Ashley added he looked forward to the class to delve into community service and said he excited was their to give back to the public.

The students also received a bit of support from EHS coach Bill McClay. Double dipping as boys and girls coach, McClay visited during Wednesday’s tour said he was excited to see the initiative taken by the students to give back and their drive to accomplish a goal. McClay spearheaded the soccer program’s creation at EHS and has played a pivotal role in its continuity for Cyclone Nation.

To learn more about what’s going on with the Bartleby Program, visit the Bartleby Program Facebook page.