Rise and shine: University of Alabama gymnasts host Christmas party for students

Dozens of children from the Rise Center came Friday to jump, fall and run with the University of Alabama gymnastics team at the Frances Smith Practice Facility at Coleman Coliseum for their annual holiday party.

During the party, UA gymnasts played with children at different training stations, from the high beam to pits filled with foam.

The UA gymnastics team has a long partnership with Rise, having hosted a holiday party for the last 25 years. Members of the team have also volunteered at Rise throughout the years, reading to children and doing other things to help out with the program.

The Rise Center is part of the UA College of Human Environmental Sciences. The center serves more than 100 children, over 50% with special needs, in their five-day-a-week program and therapeutic playgroup.

The inclusive early childhood education program not only benefits families in the community, but it also serves as a practicum and internship site for students from UA and other colleges.

For more information, go to risecenter.ua.edu.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: UA gymnasts host Christmas party for Rise Center students