JSC Athletics Receives Pair of Grants

May 3, 2012

Johnson State College (JSC) has been awarded two grants from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) that will support the expansion of programs and leadership opportunities for student-athletes and enable the college to create the position of Assistant Director of Athletics for External and Internal Communications.

JSC was one of just 15 institutions nationwide selected to receive a three-year NCAA “CHOICES” grant, which will be used to promote alcohol awareness and expand leadership opportunities for the college’s 132 varsity athletes starting with the fall 2012 semester. In addition Johnson student-athletes will help promote healthy choices throughout the student body as a whole.

“Our receipt of the CHOICES grant is the result of a rich collaboration among JSC staff, faculty and students,” said Camille Campanile, coordinator of student-athlete development at JSC. “We will use the grant to educate, support and empower our student-athletes to make choices concerning alcohol that are healthy, safe and legal, and to actively engage them in promoting positive choices to their fellow students through peer advocacy and mentoring.”

Media campaigns, community outreach and events offering alternatives to alcohol use will be featured as well. The effort will be led by JSC’s coordinator of student-athlete development, a new position created at Johnson this year.

The second NCAA grant, a three-year “strategic alliance” matching grant, supports member institutions seeking to create full-time professional opportunities for minorities and women. JSC will use the grant to create a new assistant director of athletics, who will help the athletics director develop and lead Johnson’s intercollegiate athletics program, manage the sports-information and marketing needs of JSC’s 12 varsity teams, and assist with development and alumni relations.

“We are thrilled to receive these two grants from the NCAA,” said Director of Athletics Jamey Ventura. “The grants will allow Johnson State College Athletics to continue to enhance the experience of our student-athletes and grow our programs in line with the mission of the College.”