The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Host Elementary Students as Part of NSAD
4/18/2008 | Athletics
OXFORD, Miss. - In an effort to reach out to local youth, Ole Miss student-athletes recently hosted approximately 250 fourth-graders from Oxford's Della Davidson Elementary School for a day of activities on the Ole Miss campus.
The event was held on April 9 and was the community service project for National Student-Athlete Day (NSAD), which took place one week earlier and was highlighted by a ceremony and reception for all Ole Miss student-athletes at the Gertrude Castellow Ford Center for the Performing Arts.
Kicking off the day's activities with the children was senior football player Jason Cook serving as the program's master of ceremonies for the second straight year. With his great enthusiasm and fun personality, Cook opened by teaching the youth several Ole Miss cheers and chants. Cook was one of 55 volunteer student-athletes and coaches who were dedicated to spending their day with the kids.
The guest speaker for the fourth-graders was Rebels head football coach Houston Nutt. His message stressed the importance of excelling in academics, respecting authority and making good decisions.
The children participated in several events including relay races, campus tours and sport demonstrations with the student-athlete volunteers. Among the sport exhibitions was track & field, soccer, basketball, football, golf and rifle, which showcased the rifle competition uniforms and included complimentary official game targets.
The elementary students also took part in an autograph signing session to conclude the program. The event focused on promoting the student-athlete experience at the University of Mississippi.
Ole Miss student-athletes were honored for their dedication to projects such as these at the annual National Student-Athlete Day program on April 2. The event featured former Rebel and NFL player Curtis Weathers as the guest keynote speaker.
Using his personal experience as a student-athlete, Weathers addressed the importance of strong academic achievement in order to gain success. Weathers is currently the Principal of the Memphis Academy for the Health Sciences, which was established as one of the first charter schools of the state of Tennessee in 2003.
Awarded during the Ford Center ceremony was the Chancellor's Cups for highest team GPAs to the men's and women's tennis teams, the SEC Community Service Postgraduate Scholarships to track athletes Carmia Carroll and James Maloney, and the "Crossing the Lines" award to soccer player Cori Mehan.
"Crossing the Lines" is presented to the individual that stretches beyond the traditional role of a student-athlete and excels in their sports, the classroom and the community. Mehan shined above and beyond academically; contributed unselfishly in the community; and truly served as a role model to her fellow student-athletes and coaches.
National Student-Athlete Day highlights the achievements of student-athletes across the country. It recognizes the dedication of student-athletes to athletics, academics, and community service. The event was founded by the National Consortium for Academics & Sports and Northeastern University's Center for the Study of Sport in Society; it was also made in conjunction with the NCAA.