November 15, 2009

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Tech student-athletes and Jere Whitson Elementary School teamed up to benefit the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's annual canned food drive, as Jere Whitson students donated 700 cans of food to the drive which will count towards Tech's total in the OVC competition. The Ohio Valley Conference school that donates the most cans will be recognized by the league.

The elementary school held a two-week competition between each of its classes, with the fourth grade class winding up victorious. Their prize? A game of kickball with the Golden Eagle soccer team.

The cans, along with the thousands of other cans collected by Tennessee Tech student-athletes, will be donated to various food banks in the Cookeville area. Meanwhile, Jere Whitson students learned the importance of giving back to those in need.

"We work on character each day," said Jere Whitson principal Dr. Teri Anderson. "We talk about what it means to be responsible, respectful, trustworthy, caring and fair. The students work toward the goal of being people of character."

The canned food drive was the fourth community service project that Jere Whitson Elementary has been involved this fall alone. The school has also been involved in fund raising for the Children's Museum, stuffed animals for Make a Difference Day and Christmas Child Boxes for Samaritan's Purse. The school is now writing cards for soldiers.  

"We feel that we have been so fortunate that we need to give back," Anderson said.

Tech also received 1,000 cans which were donated from the Exercise Science and Physical Wellness department, and will count towards Tech's total. Each OVC school will report its total number of cans donated to the league offices in early December.