Alumni game to benefit academic programs as well as gym upgrades

By Lynn Hotaling

Thanks to Allison's Chevrolet/Jeep/Oldsmobile, former Jackson County high school basketball players will have a last opportunity to take the court Saturday, March 3, during The Last Shot Alumni Game set for 7 p.m. in the SMHS gym.

Presented by Allison's and sponsored by Macon Bank, WRGC and Coca-Cola, the game will feature basketball players from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Proceeds from the event will be split down the middle, with one-half funding additional gym upgrades and equipment and one-half going to the school system's newly-established Academic Excellence Fund.

Coordinating the event is Margie Allison, a member of the school system's academically and intellectually gifted advisory board. Allison said she was in the gym recently while her 7-year-old son participated in a recreation league and noticed areas in need of repair. After talking to SMHS Athletic Director Si Simmons and learning of plans to replace the gym floor and bleachers, Allison started thinking of ways to raise money for other needed equipment. Since she also knew of the need for additional funds for academic programs, Allison thought an alumni game could be a successful fund-raiser for both.

"I thought it would be a good way to get the whole community involved," Allison said.

The initial idea was to designate one-half of the game receipts to the county's AIG program, but it was decided to create the Academic Excellence Fund in order to broaden the number of students and programs that could be assisted, said Tinnie Salzano, SMHS English teacher and countywide AIG coordinator.

A subcommittee of the AIG board is currently working on guidelines for disbursement of funds, Salzano said. The idea is for the Academic Excellence Fund to supplement academic programs by providing money for such extras as field trips, scholarships to summer camps that emphasize academics, supplemental classroom materials, seminars and special institutes for top students in conjunction with Western Carolina University, she said.

The new Academic Excellence Fund will be administered through the school system's special fund at the Jackson County Community Foundation.

The March 3 competition will feature coed teams from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, and is for men and women who played varsity basketball at any Jackson County high school. Howard Allman will serve as master of ceremonies, and musical entertainment is planned at halftime along with a shootout with prizes to be awarded.

As part of the fund-raiser, pieces of the gym floor used since 1960 will be sold. Orders for floor sections will be taken the night of the game.

Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under. Anyone interested in making a donation but unable to attend may send a check to Smoky Mountain High School in care of Principal Kenny Nicholson. Checks should be designated for the gym renovation/academic excellence. The mailing address is 100 Smoky Mountain Drive, Sylva, N.C. 28779.

Those wishing to donate to the Academic Excellence Fund can do so through the Community Foundation, 7 Colonial Square, Suite 200, Sylva, N.C. 28779. Checks should be marked for Academic Excellence Fund.

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