The Sports Ledger www.TheSportsLedger.com
Alabama Ledger www.AlabamaLedger.com
PAGE 6A December 2023
Children battling cancer become a part of the Gadsden State Athletic Department A special signing A social worker
had a relationship with Gadsden State Athletic Director Blake Lewis while he was a baseball coach at Lawson State Community College in Birmingham. Waylon said he wanted his family to reconnect with Lewis and become Cardinals. “The previous relationship my team had with JoJo is proof that the partnership with the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation is a great fit for children with cancer,” Lewis said. “The goal of the partnership is to increase the children’s morale during their fight with cancer.” Riley Cook, an 8-year- old from Hayden is battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He was diagnosed when he was 6 years old. His father, Aaron, said he and his wife, Jessica, are hopeful that he will have his last spinal treatment in January. "His diagnosis did not stop him from playing basketball,” added his father. “During his first season, he was undergoing treatments. He continued to practice on Thursday and play on Saturday even though he was sick.”
connected with the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation. “When we told Riley about the Foundation Riley and Gadsden State, he immediately said yes,” Aaron said. “He was excited to attend the signing event and to meet all of the players.” Lynda and Denis Murphy, founders of the Foundation, attended the signing event and shared how the foundation programs are making a difference in the lives of 1,020 children nationwide. The Foundation was founded after their daughter, Jaclyn, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in 2004 when she was only 9 years old. While in the hospital, a lacrosse team poster inspired her father to encourage hope that she would one day be like the players on the poster – happy and excited by a victory. Later, she was adopted by a collegiate lacrosse team as an honorary member. “The uplifting encouragement she received from the team members while battling cancer led to her dream of having sick children adopted by a
event was recently held at Gadsden State Community College, to welcome Joseph Nelson and Riley Cook to the Gadsden State Cardinals family. Flanked by their parents, the boys “signed” with the Cardinals on Nov. 30 at the Beck Conference Center. The partnership was organized by the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, which was created in 2004 to improve the quality of life for children battling pediatric cancer. Joseph Nelson, known as “JoJo,” is a 7-year-old from Shelby. He has had multiple brain tumors and is now in active treatment. His parents, Waylon and Casey Nelson, said he is responding well to treatment. “When he was one and a half, we took him to the doctor with what we thought was a severe ear infection but was shaken to the core with a cancer diagnosis,” said his father. “JoJo will never play sports because of the titanium plates in his head, but he loves watching sports.” The Nelson family, including brother Colton,
Some of those showing support at the event were Riley Cook, AD Blake Lewis, Denis Murphy, Joseph Nelson, Dean Myrick, as well as various other friends and volunteers.
team of their own,” Denis Murphy said. “She wanted to help every sick child find a team to show them love, support and friendship. “The foundation not only helps the child suffering, but it also helps the parents cope with their child's suffering. Research is important, but I am focused on helping these children today." Lewis said the children have been welcomed to the Cardinal family for life. “Just like Jaclyn Murphy, JoJo and Riley
will receive encouragement through videos, text messages, planned events and games,” he said. “I’m honored and the athletes are honored to be a part of this connection with these children.” Lewis added that the partnership is a win-win for the Nelson and Cook families and the Gadsden State Cardinals. "Through adversity comes discipline and endurance – key ingredients to the success and life of any athlete,” he said. “My goal is to use the connection
with JoJo and Riley as a reminder to Gadsden State's athletes that these children's adversity is negative, but with discipline and endurance, it can be turned into something positive. I want to provide exciting experiences for the children, their family and our athletes to channel meaningful positive memories into their lives, whether in the game, the classroom or the sideline." For more information about the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, visit friendsofjaclyn.org.
GSCC Dean of Student Services
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey recently announced that the Alabama Department of Human Resources finalized 741 foster care adoptions in Fiscal Year 2023. “I am extremely proud that Alabama has been able to place so many children in permanent homes,” said Governor Ivey. “I appreciate the tireless and dedicated work of the Department of Human Resources and our state’s numerous private partners. I also sincerely thank our foster families and adoptive families for giving these children loving, forever homes.” According to a report from the Governor, 69 percent of children who left foster care, returned home to family members or their parent(s) in 2023. While most children in Alabama’s foster care system do return to their families, there continues to be a need for adoptive families. “We are proud to have found permanency for these 741 children and youth that deserve forever families,” said Alabama Department of Human Resources Commissioner Nancy Buckner. “We could not have accomplished this without our partners in the permanency and adoption process, especially the judges, adoptive parents and foster parents. However, we must remember that the work is not done. We still have children that are waiting for a permanent family. Our staff and others work diligently every day to give these children the permanency they need. Always remember that there are no unwanted children, only unfound homes.” Currently, there are approximately 6,000 children and youth in Alabama’s foster care system and 196 that need forever homes. Strong year for Alabama Adoptions
Gadsden State Community College has a new dean of Student Services. Andy Green of Jacksonville provides leadership, strategic planning and executive oversight of student enrollment, retention and success for credit and non- credit programs. “I see the opportunities that community colleges have in serving the state of Alabama,” he said. “Community colleges provide academic courses, workforce development opportunities, adult education and so much more. I understand the mission of the Alabama Community College System – to ensure educational accessibility, excellence and equity for Alabama citizens. This closely aligns with who I am as a person.” Green comes to Gadsden State from Jacksonville State University, where he worked for 18 years. He earned two degrees from the university – a bachelor’s degree in geography in 2005 and a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in spatial analysis management in 2008. “Two weeks after earning my bachelor’s degree, I went to work at JSU as an admissions counselor,” he said. “I had a great time traveling in the region recruiting students to JSU.”
and special programs. It was an opportunity for him to gain experience in academic affairs. “I enjoyed working with students in the honors program,” he said. “I worked closely with organizations in our service area to create and organize community service opportunities for these students. My experience across JSU allowed me to really understand how the honors program is vital to the institution. They are students who are the brightest and the best. I worked with them to ensure that they are engaged in the college experience and have a strong sense of belonging. It was exciting to be a part of it.” Now, Green has turned his attention to Gadsden State and is excited about being a part of a team that is making a difference in the lives of students. “We know the value that certificates and degrees bring to individuals of all ages and to their communities,” he said. “For me, the goal is to ensure that everyone knows what Gadsden State has to offer and to understand that what we have to offer will positively impact lives.” He values partnerships and said he is consistently taking on a collaborative approach in his work. “Gadsden State is partnering with organizations to promote
a vital workforce in our service area and in the entire state,” he said. “We are bridging education to the private sector for employment. Relationship building is so important.” Green has cultivated his relationship with his community for many years. He was elected to the Jacksonville City Council in 2020 and was appointed to the Civil Service Board and the Commercial Development Authority, of which he served as chairman in 2019. The married father of two has served in leadership roles in the Alabama Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, the Southern Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, the Alabama Banner Users Group and the Alabama ACT Council. Through the Calhoun Area Chamber of Commerce, he served as co- chair of the Calhoun County Complete Count Census Committee, was named Ambassador of the Year and is a graduate of Leadership Calhoun County. Through The Chamber of Gadsden and Etowah, Green was in the inaugural cohort of the Professional Leadership Academy and is a graduate of Leadership Etowah. Green, who started his job on November 30, said he intends to help Gadsden State students achieve their definition of “success.”
Three years later, he was named a senior admissions counselor. “This position really opened up the operations side of Admissions,” he said. “I got into the application process and transcript reviews, which I had not done before.” In 2009, Green became the director of academic advising, which was a new position that centralized advising for undecided majors and student-athletes. A year later, he was named director of enrollment management, where he developed and executed an enrollment and recruitment plan that provided a 77 percent increase in first-year and transfer applications over a seven-year period. In 2017, Green landed the position of director of community engagement and was responsible for forming partnerships between the university and community-based organizations, professionals and economic enterprises. The position eventually became responsible for continuing education and outreach as well. In 2022, he was named assistant dean of honors
Know your
neighbor?
I’m There
M. Chris Kuykendall
8563 US Hwy 431 Albertville, AL Office: 256-878-1000
For All Your Real Estate Needs Call
1827 Gault Ave. North Fort Payne, AL 35967
Bus: 256-845-4984 Fax: 256-845-7509
Riley Honea 256-302-6875
Tracy Honea 256-302-2590
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker