An athlete mentor speaks with students gathered around desks in a classroom.

One Athlete and a Big Vision

Classroom Champions began with a simple belief that if an athlete could change one child’s life by sharing their story, it would be worth it. While competing in bobsled for Team USA, Olympic athlete Steve Mesler regularly visited schools to talk with students about the lessons that shaped his journey… perseverance, goal setting, teamwork, and resilience. Those moments mattered. Students listened. They connected.Then Steve’s sister, educator and researcher Dr. Leigh Parise, asked a pivotal question:What if this impact didn’t have to end after one visit? What if athletes could be a consistent presence in students’ lives?That question changed everything.
A mentor takes a group selfie with students wearing Classroom Champions T-shirts.

From an Idea to a Movement

In 2009, as Steve prepared for his final Olympic Games, where he would go on to win a gold medal, he and Leigh turned that question into action and Classroom Champions was born.The program began simply, yet powerfully. Steve mentored nine classrooms across the United States and Canada, connecting with students monthly and building real relationships over time. What started as a small pilot quickly revealed something extraordinary – consistent mentorship paired with authentic storytelling could transform classroom culture.

Growing Beyond the Classroom Walls

Since those early days, Classroom Champions has grown exponentially, reaching students across borders and earning global recognition. Along the way, the organization has:
  • Hosted live video chats from the Olympic Village during the 2010, 2018, 2020, and 2022 Olympic Winter Games
  • Received the International Olympic Committee’s Olympism Award
  • Earned designation as a Certified Mentorship Program
  • Been awarded the International Fair Play Diploma, becoming the only North American NGO to receive the honor
  • Partnered with the Costa Rican Olympic Committee and Fundación Joven to serve schools in Costa Rica
  • Received two international Athletes for Good grants from Procter & Gamble
  • Collaborated with leading organizations in sport, media, and education, including the Buffalo Bills, NHL, Minnesota Vikings, NBC Olympics, Teachers College, and the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committees

The Impact

To date, Classroom Champions has connected more than 250 Olympians, Paralympians, collegiate, and professional athletes with thousands of students across the United States, Canada, St. Lucia, Grenada, Dominica, Costa Rica, and U.S. military installations in Germany. And the impact is real.Students have shown measurable growth in confidence, attendance, and academic achievement because they’re learning life skills from Athlete Mentors who live them every day.
Excited students and mentors cheer behind a banner welcoming Classroom Champions at West Greene school.

Our Values

The People Behind the Mission

Classroom Champions is guided by a dedicated Board of Directors, Champions Circle, and Athlete Advisory Board who deeply believe in the power of mentorship and education. Together, they help ensure the program remains impactful, research-informed, and centered on what students need most.
Meet our Supporters
A smiling student wears a Classroom Champions t-shirt with classmates in the background.