Josh Shaw latest Bengals player to join “Learning is Cool” initiative

Josh Shaw had a pretty good game against the Packers this week. He was forced to play more as the heat made the Bengals rotate corners, and then George Iloka and Shawn Williams both missed some snaps due to minor injuries. Shaw followed that up by visiting kids at Mt. Washington Elementary School in Cincinnati.

Shaw visited as apart of Marvin Lewis’ Community Fund program Learning Is Cool. Shaw ate pizza with the kids and also participated in several activities. The program helps gives kids incentive to get high grades by rewarding them. Children have to reach an “A” Honor Roll (3.51+) achievement in order to participate in quarterly rewards.

Students who reach the Honor Roll twice during the school year are rewarded by being invited to attend the Academic Achievement Celebration at the Cincinnati Zoo, where they meet Coach Lewis and Bengals’ players award them with a special medal of achievement.

7,701 students have qualified for the Academic Achievement Celebration this year, and that number is a 1,47% increase from last year. The program has also caused a 173% increase in Honor Roll achievements at North College Hill in just six years.

It is clear the program gives students plenty of extra incentive to get to that Honor Roll. I mean what kid doesn’t want to get pizza with a Bengals’ player or go to the zoo with them?

Dozens of Bengals players have participated in this program over the years, Darqueze Dennard and Ryan Hewitt among them.

The Marvin Lewis Community Fund provides scholarships to students with proven financial need who have at least a 2.75 grade point average. They also have to show exceptional commitment to community service. Lewis personally interviews and decides on the finalists and presents them with checks during the Marvin Lewis Golf Classic weekend.