ASU Puts Cap On J.A.G.S Week

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Augusta State Athletics wrapped up the first annual J.A.G.S. Week on Thursday, a week-long outreach initiative organized, designed and implemented entirely by ASU student-athletes.

Approximately 120 ASU student-athletes took part in J.A.G.S. Week. J.A.G.S. (Jaguars Actively Giving Service) and the week-long, community service program was the brainchild of ASU’s SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee), a group comprised of two members from each of ASU’s 10 varsity sports programs.

“This week has been a tremendous success,” said Jessica Matta, president of SAAC and a junior second baseman on the ASU softball squad. “This community has been so supportive of the University and of ASU Athletics, and we wanted to find a way to give something back. The individual experiences we had were uplifting, and a lot of them were very humbling. I think overall each of us was touched in some way. We all walked away from this with a lesson learned.”

From Monday through Thursday, student-athletes from each of ASU’s athletic teams participated in various community outreach projects. Some student-athletes visited Garrett Elementary School to spend time with children in an after-school program. Others sat down with residents at Jennings Health Care and Walton Way Transitional Living, taking time to greet and speak with the residents and to participate in various games and activities. At the V.A. Hospital, student-athletes spent time talking with veterans and played bingo with the residents.

“We saw J.A.G.S. Week as a platform to stir up community involvement among student-athletes here at ASU,” said SAAC liason and assistant women’s basketball coach Kaye Waldrep. “We wanted this week to demonstrate to the student-athletes the effect they can have on the community and to give them ideas of how they can get involved. It was also a chance for them to gain perspective on the community in which they live.”

In the future, J.A.G.S. Week will take place during the fall semester, serving as a springboard to keep student-athletes involved in community outreach for the rest of the year.