Thirty-one student-athletes will speak with the school’s students from 10-11:30 a.m. about the importance of education and college attendance, respecting authority, anti-bullying, perseverance and the pursuit of their dreams.
They will also have lunch at the school and distribute Georgia bags, t-shirts, posters and other items to the students.
Also attending the event will be women’s basketball head coach Joni Crenshaw and Deputy Director of Athletics Carla Williams.
The UGA student-athletes participating in Learn, Play, Excel are members of the Leadership Education and Development (L.E.A.D.) program. Created in 2010, L.E.A.D. inductees are chosen based on academic and athletic success, leadership, campus and community service involvement and recommendations of head coaches and academic counselors.
This marks the fifth-consecutive year that Georgia has partnered with an Atlanta-area school to share the message. “UGA Day – Learn, Play, Excel” was first held at Miller Grove High School in Lithonia in 2011. Georgia has also visited Hamilton E. Holmes Elementary in East Point (2012), Charles R. Drew Charter School in Atlanta (2013) and Berta Weathersbee Elementary in LaGrange (2014).
The following UGA student-athletes will be in attendance on Wednesday:
Baseball: Sean McLaughlin
Women’s Basketball: Marjorie Butler
Equestrian: Morgan Justiss, Paige Stawicki
Football: Faton Bauta, Jeb Blazevich, Lorenzo Carter, Reggie Carter, Josh Dawson, Keith Marshall, Quincy Mauger, Nathan Theus
Women’s Golf: Sylvie Brick
Gymnastics: Chelsea Davis, Cat Hires
Softball: Niaja Griffin
Swimming and Diving: Olivia Boggs, Nicolas Fink, Maddie Locus, Laura Ryan
Men’s Tennis: Nathan Pasha
Women’s Tennis: Lauren Herring, Alina Jerjomina, Maho Kowase
Track and Field: Maria Augutis, Morgann Leleux, Burke McCarty, Kisean Smith, Kendell Williams
Volleyball: Gaby Smiley, Lauren Teknipp