DETROIT — East Jordan Middle School’s Shoe Club students had the opportunity to design custom cleats for Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, which he wore during the Nov. 23 game against the New York Giants.
The St. Brown Foundation invited the Shoe Club to the Lions practice facility before the My Cause My Cleats game, allowing students to meet St. Brown and design a cleat for him to wear on the field.
“The fact that Amon-Ra would invite my students down to the Detroit Lions practice facility to meet with them and entrust them to design a cleat for him that he’ll actually wear in a game is just incredible,” said Matt Hamilton, founder of Shoe Club Nation.
Students from the Shoe Club were filled with excitement to meet St. Brown but were nervous to show off their shoe design. They were split into teams to work on their designs.
Matt Hamilton said that the energy level among the students was high from the moment they learned about the opportunity, and it remained so throughout their five-hour bus ride to Detroit.
The Shoe Club aims to teach students to value themselves and others, and Hamilton believes role models like St. Brown help convey this message.
Able Tall, a student in the club, expressed his excitement about meeting his favorite player, Amon-Ra St. Brown, calling the experience inspiring and emphasizing the importance of valuing such experiences.
9&10 News first told you about Shoe Club Nation and Able Tall’s dream to meet Amon-Ra St. Brown in July; that story can be found here.
Once the shoes were designed, St. Brown came in to pick his favorite. Each team had a chance to share what they created, but only one team was announced the winner.
Laken Skop, a member of the winning team, described their design, which included messages like “believe in yourself” and elements such as Lions colors and chrome gold accents.
The winning team received tickets to see St. Brown wear their custom-designed cleats during a game.
Hamilton expressed his excitement about the experience, noting how meaningful it was for both him and the students.
The Shoe Club’s involvement in designing cleats for Amon-Ra St. Brown not only provided students with a memorable experience but also highlighted the importance of self-belief and creativity. The event culminated in a game where St. Brown achieved his 500th career reception wearing the custom cleats.
Fans have the chance to win Amon-Ra’s unique game-worn cleats by donating, with additional opportunities to win tickets to the Lions vs Rams game in Los Angeles on Dec. 14.
The donation campaign offers a grand prize that includes two tickets to the highly anticipated Lions vs Rams game, along with airfare, a two-night hotel stay, and exclusive sideline passes.
The game between the Lions and Rams is set to take place in Los Angeles on Dec. 14, providing a thrilling opportunity for fans to witness the action live.