Basketball will be the ticket that gets a group of Garcia Middle School eighth graders to Washington D.C.

It's not every year that middle school students get the chance to tour the nation's capital with the Smithsonian Student Education Travel group, but it is an opportunity being afforded to the Garcia Dragons this spring. And to help fund the trip, the students are hosting a community basketball game to drum up support for this unique educational experience. 

"We are beyond excited for this unique and rare opportunity for our northeast Austin students," history teacher Brandy Gratton said. "We need the united support of the Austin community as we build the positive message of belief for students on our campus."

Next Thursday, the Verse One Federation, a group of AISD alumni and community members, will lace up their shoe strings and throw on their jerseys to help raise funds for the eighth grade students during the Second Annual Men's Basketball Community Fundraiser. The Garcia eighth grade boys basketball team, who claimed the title of the 2013 city champions, will also make an appearance during the event, as will as the Dragon drum line. 

Join AISD at Garcia Middle School, 7414 Johnny Morris Road, on Thursday, April 11 at 7 p.m. for an evening of riveting competitive basketball and music that will help these motivated students to experience the educational trip of a lifetime.