Advanced Placement Chemistry classes at Tulsa’s East Central Senior High School are proof that Thunder fans are one smart and creative bunch. Thunder fan and chemistry teacher Jamie Holloway has found a way to combine her two favorite things by using Thunder players in her lesson plans.

I can only imagine her students’ reactions to their first assignment on the history of the periodic table of elements. To help illustrate the challenges scientists faced when organizing the elements, each student arranged the Thunder players based on height, weight, age, school or position to make their own Thunder periodic table.

Thunder players arranged by weight

Holloway doesn’t stop there; she incorporates the Thunder into her lesson plans all year. Examples taken from Thunder players help her students learn about the elements, polar and non-polar bonds, how the body achieves acid and base balance, and spontaneous reactions. Students even make atom cards based on players’ jersey numbers to learn about the atomic construction of molecules and compounds by making different player combinations.

Thunder atom cards used to help students learn the elements

The Thunder-themed lessons even inspired these budding scientists to work on a project that didn’t require protective eyewear. This wonderful piece, which they call “Kevin DurLAMP”, is made out of the paper player cutouts from their local newspaper.

Students Sharon, Brendon and Grace showing off the “Kevin DurLAMP”

Holloway and her classes get an “A+” for finding a fun way to combine beakers and basketball. We wish the students the best of luck on their Advanced Placement Chemistry test!

-       Amy Hill

Oklahoma’s oldest radio station is no stranger to change. For over 90 years, WKY 930 AM filled OKC’s airwaves with programming that included Top 40, country music and talk radio shows. The station currently boasts one of the biggest regional signals in the Southwest among Spanish stations.  Now known as La Indomable, they provide our Hispanic community with quality programming and play-by-play for Thunder home games as part of the 14-station Thunder Radio Network.

A few weeks ago WKY switched things up again by selecting a woman to call play-by-play on air, a rarity in radio for any sport. While our regular Spanish play-by-play announcer, Eleno Ornalas, is called away to announce Texas Rangers baseball games, Sandra Velazquez paved the way for future female sportscasters and called her first game when the Thunder took on the Knicks at home on Sunday, April 7.

Listen to Sandra Velaquez on WKY

Sandra, a columnist for ESPN Deportes, fell in love with the NBA as a kid and dreamed of one day watching a game in person. When she got older, she got a degree in journalism and immersed herself in all things NBA. Though she prefers to write about basketball, she worked for the Mavericks’ Spanish radio broadcast as an analyst for 10 years and provided commentary on the air.

Velaquez calls play-by-play for WKY

Sandra loves having the opportunity to share her passion for basketball and has announced three other Thunder games on the air since her debut, including Wednesday night’s Game 2 game against Houston. She hopes that her work on the radio will inspire more girls to pursue careers in sports reporting.

-Amy Hill

The Thunder players and coaching staff are hard at work here in Tulsa thanks to Thursday night’s Blue and White Scrimmage and tonight’s preseason matchup against the Phoenix Suns at the BOK Center.

This afternoon, however, between morning shootaround and tip off at 7:00 p.m. CT, there was time for some fun and games on the floor at the BOK Center. 200 students in fourth, fifth and sixth grades from north Tulsa middle schools were selected to be a part of a Thunder event that was both exciting and inspirational. Kicking off the proceedings on Friday afternoon was a talk from Thunder broadcasters Brian Davis and Grant Long, who spoke on the importance of school, digging deeper to get where they want to go in life and overcoming adversity.

Next, the students had the chance to interact with Rumble, who put on quite a show. From explaining the importance of a good diet and exercise to showing the kids the benefits of reading, Rumble also gave the students a message to bring home. Of course, Rumble also utilized his own special style to make the kids laugh and have a good time. One student was brought out to help Rumble complete a magic trick, then a group of students and two teachers came on the floor for a teamwork competition. Finally, students were able to get onto the court at the BOK Center and shoot basketballs, just like the Thunder will in a matter of hours.