Capri Howard
MC301 Contributor
As the 2018-2019 school year comes to a close, the Department of Athletics hosted their Mardi Gras themed Athletics Banquet on April 10 in the Student Center Ballrooms. This event took the time to honor all student athletes for the academic accomplishments along with community involvement.
The following sports were recognized for their team and individual achievements: Men’s Track, Women’s Track, Volleyball, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Soccer, Football, Women’s Bowling, Men’s Tennis, and Women’s Tennis. Softball and baseball will be recognized later when their season play ends.
The night began with the Sonic Boom marching in with a classical Mardi Gras selection, led by student athletes. MADDRAMA and the Dance Ensemble also performed.
Chi Alpha Sigma had its first induction of 34 participants, while honoring its four charter members. This ceremony included a pinning and the reciting of the creed. The group honored its members and the hardest working student athlete, Rikita Saunders.
Violet Kirk, a junior graphic design major from Aurora, Ill., who is a student athlete and a new member of Chi Alpha Sigma felt very special to be an athlete on this night.
“I was not expecting to be inducted to Chi Alpha Sigma but I’m excited about it. I did enjoy the banquet. The atmosphere was very positive. The Maddrama performance was very entertaining and made me feel special to be an athlete,” said Kirk.
The team of academic advisors had the chance to honor the female and male athletes of the year: senior tennis player Lucia Solia, junior track member Vincent Langat, sophomore Marina Bianchi Brito, and senior men’s baseball Garth Cahlil.
Richard Meyers, Jackson State basketball announcer, presented all the team’s individual and conference awards. Some of the awards handed out for each team included, Most Outstanding Player, Most Improved Player, Most Valuable Player, and the Leadership Award.
Rafael Ordaz, an academic advisor who was also a part of the planning committee was very impressed by the turn out and proud of the staff’s work.
“The programs were being worked on for a month in advance, and it was an overall collaborative effort amongst the JSU staff involved. It was better than expected, with an impressive turnout. It was a great environment filled with tiger pride,” Ordaz stated.
This athletic year has been a remarkable one for JSU with both basketball teams hosting the first round of the SWAC tournament, the volleyball team’s consecutive trips to the SWAC tournament, the women’s basketball team making the SWAC tournament for the first time in ten years and finishing second, along with the women’s bowling team finishing runner up in the SWAC tournament two years in a row.
“Since it was my first time, everything was good from the presenters, food, entertainment, and aesthetics. Taking time to praise student athletes for their output is always significant,” stated Chelsea Williams, a graduate assistant for athletics.
Vice President and athletic director Ashley Robinson closed the evening with pleasant remarks for the student athletes along with a special thanks to the Blue Bengal Association and the Tiger Fund. The night ended with the school’s alma mater, “Jackson Fair, Jackson Dear”.
