2008 President's Report
Glaze Nationally Recognized -
Baseball standout Chris Glaze accepts
award from the NJCAA
Christopher Glaze has played baseball his entire life.
Little did he realize his love for the game would allow him to share the stage with fellow athletes from all over the country in St. Louis, Missouri, at the 10th annual AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards in June.
“It’s funny how things you do take you to so many places,” said Glaze, a Jones graduate who received the NJCAA’s Lea Plarski Award during a ceremony in the Khorassan Ballroom of the Chase Park Plaza Hotel. “Coming from a small town like Ellisville, you never dream of things like this, but you hope for them. This is something I will never forget.”
Glaze, a standout shortstop for the past two years at JCJC, was recognized for his classroom performance and community service. The Lea Plarski Award goes to a junior college student-athlete who exemplifies sportsmanship, leadership, community service, academic excellence and athletic ability.
Athletes from elementary school all the way up through the professional level were honored at the event which had the theme of “Celebrating All That’s Right in Sports.” Kindness, compassion, honesty and integrity were prominent words on display throughout the evening.
A video presentation was presented on each of the honorees, and they were then called up to the stage where they were interviewed by master of ceremonies Mike Bush, the 6 and 10 p.m. anchor of KSDK-TV, NBC affiliate in St. Louis.
Bush asked Chris Glaze what it was like playing for his father, Coach Bobby Glaze, at JCJC and why he was so motivated to be a leader in the community.
“It was the opportunity of a lifetime,” Chris Glaze told the crowd of several hundred. “I have learned so much from my dad over the course of my life. It was something special, and I would not trade it for anything.
“I have been surrounded by so many great individuals who encouraged me and inspired me, so anytime I can do the same for somebody else - inspire them and encourage them - I want to do that. The city of St. Louis and everyone involved really put on a great event. It’s an honor to be in the presence of such great people in athletics and such great people in general. The entire evening was wonderful.”
Glaze, who maintained a 4.0 GPA while majoring in exercise physiology at JCJC was vice president of the Rho Sigma chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the school’s honor society. He speaks to youngsters at elementary schools, discussing the importance of remaining drug, alcohol and tobacco free. He also has volunteered his services at a local soup kitchen and has assisted with the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
Glaze plans to continue his education and baseball career in the fall at Mississippi College in Clinton.
President's Report >> Inspiring The Team
