Cesar Chavez Academy in Corona had two big surprises for seventh and eighth grade athletes.
At a gathering on Thursday, March 3, two NFL players — Tyler Hall of the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams and Marcus Epps of the Philadelphia Eagles — surprised over 350 middle school students.
Cesar Chavez Academy 8th grader Brandon Perez gets a ball during an event on Thursday the 3rd (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Cesar Chavez Academy eighth grader Boeh Murillo, left, gets a high five from Philadelphia Eagles player Marcus Epps during a visit to Corona School Thursday, March 3, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Cesar Chavez Academy eighth grader Armando Sanchez, left, takes a selfie with Marcus Epps of the Philadelphia Eagles during a surprise visit to Corona School on Thursday, March 3, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Students at Cesar Chavez Academy greet Los Angeles Rams player Tyler Hall who visited Corona School to sign autographs on Thursday, March 3, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Cesar Chavez Academy eighth grader Brandon Perez receives an autograph on his jersey from the Philadelphia Eagles’ Marcus Epps, who visited the Corona campus to sign autographs on Thursday, March 3, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Eighth grader at Cesar Chavez Academy, Logan Lauridsen, receives a jersey autographed by Los Angeles Rams player Tyler Hall, who stopped by Corona School on Thursday, March 3, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Cesar Chavez Academy eighth graders Orlando Manzo, left, and Florencio Verastegui celebrate a touchdown Thursday, March 3, 2022 during the Corona School’s annual Flag Football Super Bowl. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Cesar Chavez Academy eighth graders Jackson Rhodes, left, and Brayden Torres, center, jump for joy after Torres scored a touchdown Thursday, March 3, 2022 in the Corona Campus’ Flag Football Super Bowl. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Cesar Chavez Academy eighth grader Armando Sanchez, center, is carried away by teammates and an opponent during the Corona School’s annual Flag Football Super Bowl on Thursday, March 3, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Cesar Chavez Academy eighth grader Adrian Santiago, left, tries to dodge Julian Calleros (center) as Brayden Torres looks on Thursday, March 3, 2022 during the Corona School’s annual Flag Football Super Bowl. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Cesar Chavez Academy eighth graders Brandon Perez, left, and Demitri Rubio meet Philadelphia Eagles player Marcus Epps, right, during a surprise visit Thursday, March 3, 2022 at the Corona campus. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
The students were able to meet and get autographs from the players, both of whom are from Southern California.
Later, the top two flag football teams in the PE classes played the annual Cesar Chavez Academy Super Bowl, the culmination of a 25+ team competition.
“Middle school is like the miracle years to me,” said Eric Simmons, the gym teacher who arranged the visit. “These kids are at a point in life where they’re wondering where they’re going from here – to see a positive role model coming, to bridge that connection with a professional, that’s a positive experience that I want to offer. “
Principal Lori Clays said the event helped restore “some normalcy” to that seen in days before the pandemic.
“Getting our students back into sports and events … has really given them the daily smiles, laughter and energy that we love to see in our students every day,” Clays said. “Also, a teenager doesn’t think it’s pretty cool to meet a professional athlete.”
