Registration is open for the annual Hawks, Cops and Kids event, where elementary students can participate in a morning of free activities with Kansas University athletes and local law enforcement officers.

The event is sponsored in part by the mentorship program Big Brothers Big Sisters of Douglas County and gives kids the chance to play sports and games with the athletes, and talk about healthy habits with officers. The goal is to bring kids together to have fun, and at the same time provide them the opportunity to interact with members of the community that they wouldn’t otherwise meet, said Mia Gonzalez, development associate for BBBS of Douglas County.

“It gives kids a chance to interact with some of the biggest mentors in the city,” Gonzalez said.

Hawks, Cops and Kids is open to first- through fifth-graders, and all participants will receive a T-shirt, pizza and a chance to get autographs from the athletes. The event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to noon Sept. 19 at the Robinson Center, 1301 Sunnyside Ave., on the KU campus.

KU athletes from various sports, including football, soccer, track and swimming, as well as officers from several local law enforcement agencies will participate. Officers will lead activities and presentations about personal safety, bullying, and health and wellness, Gonzalez said.

“The kids benefit by learning about staying healthy and active, which are really important to doing well in school,” she said.

Other sponsors of the event include the KU Public Safety Office, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Highway Patrol, Kansas Athletics and the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence.

Registration for the event can be done online at hawkscopsandkids.com or in person the day of the event. Registration forms are also available at the Big Brothers Big Sisters office, Boys and Girls Club or at elementary schools throughout the district. For more information, contact Big Brothers Big Sisters at 843-7359.