Athletics holds annual convocation
8/20/2013 3:31:00 AM | General
Photo gallery | Athletics strategic plan
STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern Athletics held is annual convocation in the Russell Union Theater Tuesday evening.
Athletics Director Tom Kleinlein, President Brooks A. Keel, Faculty Athletics Representative Dr. Chris Geyerman and Dean of Students Dr. Patrice Buckner Jackson spoke to a full room of Eagle student-athletes, coaches and staff.
Kleinlein welcomed back the student-athletes to campus and spoke about his excitement for the upcoming season. He addressed a number of cultural, diversity, leadership and career opportunities that are available to the athletes on campus and presented the athletic department mission statement, core values and mantra to the student-athletes, telling them if they followed the mission and adhered to the values, they would graduate as leaders.
"When you leave here, you need to be leaders," said Kleinlein. "Being a leader is a tremendous challenge. It forces you to make decisions sometimes that are unfavorable. It forces you to live a life that is not common with common people, but leaders are not common. This athletic department will not be common. We will exceed expectations."
Dr. Keel talked about the exciting future of Georgia Southern athletics and the student-athletes' role in the mission of the University.
"You represent the entire Eagle Nation," he said. "You are some of the most important and visible ambassadors we have at this University. You epitomize the competitive spirit that serves as a rallying point for the entire Eagle Nation and its faithful followers, and our boosters live vicariously through your success on the field of competition. You provide a key source of pride for our students, for our alumni and our community."
Geyerman presented the highest team GPA awards to the men's and women's tennis teams. Buckner Jackson capped off the program by sharing the Georgia Southern Values program with the student-athletes. The program's main emphasis is voices, accountability, lasting traditions, unity, ethical behavior and scholarship.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics and twitter.com/GSAthletics, and the "Eagles GATA" mobile app for Android and iOS.
