OHSAA schedules Jan. 20 as military appreciation night
Published 1:34 am Thursday, January 12, 2017
Tim Stried
Director of Communications
COLUMBUS — The Ohio High School Athletic Association encourages Ohio high schools to take part in a statewide military appreciation night on Tuesday, Jan. 20, honoring active and veteran United States Armed Forces members at athletic contests.
“Education-based athletics in the great state of Ohio are far more than winning and losing,” OHSAA assistant commissioner Jerry Snodgrass said.
“High school athletics encompass everyone. They are a school and community event. This entire school involvement helps develop student leaders on the courts and fields of play as well as in the classrooms and student groups that support their teams. This initiative is designed to emphasize these great student leaders in our schools and their support for our military.”
Potential ways for high schools in Ohio take part in this event include granting active and veteran military members free entry to athletic contests, honoring military members through public address announcements, designating military members as honorary captains, and dance and band performances that will honor our armed forces.
The program also extends to those schools that do not compete on Jan. 20.
“Many schools that do not compete on Jan. 20 have asked to hold special nights that same week,” Snodgrass said. “We have given our complete support and have promoted them as ‘tipping off’ our respect to the military.”
Student sections can play a role in this event with creative themes that will honor military members while also showing school pride.
Students can submit pictures and videos of their themes to be considered for the 2017 OHSAA Battle for the Golden Megaphone contest by posting content to Twitter and Instagram, using #GoldenMegaphone.