’Tis the season to be jolly, and student-athletes are “giving back” the joy they have had this semester by sending holiday cards to special faculty and staff members.
According to Genese A. Lavalais, assistant director of Athletics for Academics, approximately 250 holiday greeting cards have been sent across the campus of Jackson State University to more than 12 different departments.
The JSU Tigers were the top academic performing athletic department in the Southwestern Athletic Conference with more than 180 student athletes with a 3.0 GPA or higher. Each student athlete was given the opportunity to write a special message to any past or present faculty or staff member.
“It was part of a service project by the Student Athletic Advisory Committee to send well wishes for the holiday season and to say thank you for supporting them in their academic career,” according to a statement by the Athletics Academic Enhancement Center.
“After all, without the support and understanding of these professors, instructors, faculty and staff members, Jackson State would not have been recognized as the SWAC All Academic Team.”
Many students sent at least one holiday card but some requested multiple cards.