SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - Hundreds of teens spent the first day of their April vacation learning that a summer job could be a game-changer for them and their community.

The Hampden District Attorney’s Office and American International College hosted the 10th annual ‘Hoop Up Springfield’ on Monday. Over 200 area youth attended the job fair and basketball tournament at AIC’s Butova Gymnasium.

And while the energy was high, it wasn’t all fun and games.

“We really wanted to pair basketball to draw in our young people with something that was meaningful, lasting, and instructional for them,” explained Hampden District Attorney, Anthony Gulluni.

On Monday students got to visit AIC’s athletic facilities, hang out with members of the Yellow Jackets’ men and women’s basketball teams, and play in a 3-on-3 basketball tournament.

They also took part in a job fair with local businesses in attendance for a chance to find job and internship opportunities.

“We started with the idea of a job fair for our older young people who are here, where they can engage with great employers like Big Y, Six Flags, and many others. That can be summer employment for them,” Gulluni said, “We feel like work is really important for public safety.”

AIC President Nicole Cestero said hosting the event is important because it allows kids to see themselves as college students, often for the first time.

“We want to make sure that no matter what, we are giving them the resources and every advantage in order to lift them up to be our future leaders. And that means investing in them and investing the community,” Cestero noted.

Rista Pradhan, a student at Putnam Vocational, told us working with the District Attorney’s Youth Advisory Board has helped her decide to study law when she goes to college.

“I love it. Like I feel like without this program I just wouldn’t be where I am,” Pradhan explained, “I see a lot of behind the scenes of what officers do, the things they do for society and like our community.”

With over a dozen employers on hand and hundreds of kids hitting the court, the DA’s Office hopes these summer jobs will lead to a safer, more productive season for everyone in Springfield.