The Athletics Banquet

On May 18, 2017, Grace Church School hosted the annual Athletics Banquet, which celebrates athletes from every season. Students and parents were invited to have dinner while student athletes were honored for their seasons, and player awards were given, There was a guest speaker Tom Brasuell, a Grace Alum from the class of ‘74 and Vice President for External Affairs in Major League Baseball. While this event is a great opportunity to celebrate and honor student athletes, many students chose not to attend. Why did so many students decide to not attend?

Three juniors, who wished to remain anonymous said that they had prior commitments. One had a doctor’s appointment, while two others had papers due the next morning, and did not have the time. Another student said they had no idea that the Athletics Banquet was happening. Other students expressed that they did not feel that the Athletics Banquet was important. Students think that the patches and trophies are not worth the time commitment because they lack meaning. Students wish it was more geared towards school spirit, maybe in the form of a pep rally.

Mr. Mahabir’s take on the Athletic banquet is that it is “to celebrate a year in athletics and to recognize the teams. It is also to promote and support athletics at the school. Coach Jacobs stated that we have it to “honor the athletes for a job well done.” This message is not one that seems to translate to the students. In the future, the school may want to reconsider the Athletics Banquet and find a way to make it seem more relevant to students.