Rising Stars challenge touts teamwork, competition

July 16, 2026

Cheers echoed throughout Mercy Home’s gym as spectators celebrated baskets, peers waved homemade signs, and coworkers and young people shared a little friendly competition. The annual Rising Stars Challenge returned to Mercy Home this summer, bringing together our young people and coworkers for an afternoon of basketball, teamwork, and community.

The event featured three competitions: a three-person shooting relay, a two-person three-point contest, and a coworkers-versus-youth basketball game that capped off the afternoon. For event organizer and Residential Programs Supervisor Andre Simmons, the Rising Stars Challenge is about much more than basketball.

“It’s competitive, but the purpose is to also teach aspects of the game and the finer things like sportsmanship and collaboration,” Simmons said.

The event was held regularly before the COVID-19 pandemic but paused for several years. Since returning, it has continued to grow, with larger crowds, increased participation, and new additions like a DJ, medals, and gym decorations.

“This year, there were creative signs supporting the youth and coworkers,” Simmons said. “I saw more people coming in and being willing to sign up. Staff participation was great. This was the largest number I’ve seen in many years.”

The afternoon began with a fast-paced three-person shooting competition. Teams raced against the clock to make three layups, three free throws, three three-pointers, and one half-court shot before moving on to the next challenge.

For D’Arvae, one of the winners of the three-person shooting competition, sharing the victory with a peer made the experience even more memorable.

“I liked playing with one of the kids in my home and winning,” he said. “It was a ton of fun.”

Next came a two-person three-point contest, where teammates worked together to sink five shots from beyond the arc as quickly as possible. D’Arvae hopes the competition becomes a tradition that continues for years to come.

“I’d love to do this again because I like playing with my peers at Mercy Home,” D’Arvae said.

The afternoon concluded with one of the event’s most anticipated traditions: the coworkers-versus-youth basketball game. While the game featured plenty of friendly competition, Simmons said it also gave coworkers an opportunity to role model the behavior that Mercy Home encourages every day.

“When they see the coworkers passing the ball, giving positive encouragement, and being excited for each other, they’re more likely to do it as well,” Simmons said. “They emulate what they see.”

Throughout the afternoon, Simmons noticed something else that stood out.

“I saw way more positive encouragement, particularly from the older youth to the younger kids,” he said. “During the youth-versus-coworkers game, I saw all of the youth huddle, giving each other advice and passing the ball a lot. It was really cool.”

Those moments reflected the expectations Simmons sets before every competition.

“I remind them of my expectations surrounding no trash talk, positivity, teamwork, inclusivity, having fun, and just having a positive attitude,” he said. “Sports and games come with wins and losses, but it’s how you handle those things that are the most important.”

Beyond basketball, the Rising Stars Challenge also supports the therapeutic work happening across Mercy Home.

“For a lot of the youth, they aren’t comfortable being in large gatherings or certain social settings,” Simmons said. “This is an opportunity to be challenged by that. Some youth also struggle with relationships with each other, but now they’re working together to solve problems and work as a team.”