Students, staff and officials from the East Baton Rouge Parish School System welcomed NBA star Shaquille O'Neal to Polk Elementary School on September 5, 2007. Shaq visited the campus to help renovate the playground.  He also delivered a message to students, encouraging them to be the best they can be and to be obedient. "Listen to your parents and your teachers. Follow your dreams, and you can do anything you want," he said.

After speaking and meeting with students, O'Neal headed to the playground and began shoveling several piles of pea gravel. The pea gravel will be replaced with wood chips during the renovations. In addition, he also autographed several basketballs to be awarded to the highest academically achieving students in each grade at the end of the school year.

Current LSU student-athlete volunteers joined in renovating the school's playground as part of the Shaquille O'Neal CHAMPS (Challenging Athletes Minds for Personal Success)/Life Skills Program. The CHAMPS/Life Skills Program is dedicated by the NCAA to increase academic achievement among student athletes.