HELENA, Mont. – It's becoming a trend across college athletics in Montana.

This Thursday, the No. 7-ranked Carroll College Saints women's basketball team hosts Calumet College of St. Joseph in the program's annual Field Trip Game sponsored by Delta Dental. Twelve Montana schools will make the voyage to the PE Center – approximately 2,500 students total – to watch the Saints take on the Crimson Wave.

"It's a really exciting event for the players and our community to have 2,500 kids come to watch a collegiate athletic event," Saints coach Rachelle Sayers said. "For some of them it's the first time they've seen a college campus. Our hope obviously is that they leave as Saints fans as well as see what opportunities there are for them if they continue to work hard and stay focused on their academics."

Students from Radley, Prickly Pear, East Valley Middle School, Butte Central Middle School, Rossiter, Warren, Jefferson, Kessler, Bryant, Broadwater and Helena Middle School will be in attendance to see the event.

"We center this event around the Champions of Character initiative set forth by the NAIA and really encourage them to be leaders and examples in their schools, and homes and communities," Sayers said.

Kids from each school will be honored at halftime for being a Champion of Character at their respective school. Each kid in attendance will also receive a toothbrush pack courtesy of Delta Dental.  
"It's exciting for all of us," Sayers said. "It's probably the loudest atmosphere we'll be in all year. It's a really fun event."

Other college athletics teams around the state have picked up on the trend, too. Montana State, Montana, Montana Tech and Providence are all hosting similar events this fall.

"To think we were the first in Montana to bring it to Carroll College is really exciting," Sayers said. "To see Montana, Montana State, Tech and Providence all put together a field trip game of their own says a lot."

Carroll College President Dr. John Cech will be on hand, as well as Montana Governor Steve Bullock to present awards at the game.

The only remaining seats are reserved seats that are being sold at general admission prices for $8 for an adult. The game starts at noon on Thursday.