Written by: Hannah Johnson
Student Association (SA) is starting a new project in collaboration with the intramural program to display “Hall of Fame” plaques featuring the names of players who win championships on a wall in the Hulsey Wellness Center. The plaques will focus on men’s A-league and B-league teams and women’s A-league teams. According to Troy Walker, professor in the School of Health and Kinesiology and director of intramurals, some will likely be put up this month. Walker added that the current plan is to place the plaques in the hallway between Hulsey and Iles Gym.
Although SA is involved in several programs across campus, its involvement in intramurals has been lacking in recent years, said Kenneth Bautista, senior finance major and current SA president. SA started intramurals around the 1970s, and then the School of Health and Kinesiology took control of the program. Recently, members of SA began wondering how to become involved again to reach more students.
Starting this year, SA officers have become more involved by buying Southern players Gatorade during a volleyball tournament. Next, they gave Gatorade to both teams during the basketball championship and sponsored a halftime show. The group also came up with the idea to create Hall of Fame plaques.
“I think [introducing Hall of Fame plaques] is an exciting way to showcase our students’ sports,” said Bautista. “We don’t have a competitive sports team, but [Southern’s] intramurals is one of the best. It’s a highlight of the year; it’s a booming program. There’s tons of students that go to watch and play. I just feel like it was something that could boost the program a little more.”
Bautista and Walker want to set up plaques showcasing championship teams from multiple sports. The plaques will feature the names of each student on the championship team, they said, and hopefully encourage students to compete harder to get their names on the wall.
“Student Association really is about supporting students and making sure students have the best time here on campus,” Bautista said. “This is just a little way that we can help make sports a bit more competitive and a little more fun. We are trying to give credit to the teams that win.”
