• Hoops For Heroes Photo Gallery
By Luis Aguilar, OVC Media Relations Intern
For a seventh consecutive year the Ohio Valley Conference and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) from each of its member institutions honored their respective veterans through the
Hoops for Heroes program.
The
Hoops for Heroes program is a way each institution sponsors a veteran in the community. Often times these veterans are current students, alumni, parents of a student or an active member in the community.
Each school’s SAAC raises funds to sponsor their veteran(s) by hosting dinners, talent shows, or during special events hosted by its athletic department with all of the proceeds going to their
Hoops for Heroes fund. In addition, each veteran and their family are invited to the OVC Basketball Championship to be part of a special time in which the OVC, SAAC and all in attendance recognize their services to our country.
Hoops for Heroes honoree Antonio Hale (Belmont) was one of the veterans honored at this year’s tournament. Hale served eight years and one month in the United States Marine Corps and has been stationed in North Carolina, Afghanistan, Italy, Finland and Greece.
“I felt honored to be at the game to represent my university and veterans at Belmont,” said Hale after being recognized along with the other veterans in attendance.
Hale had this to say to all associated with the
Hoops for Heroes program, “I want to extend a warm sincere thank you to all who work around the clock to organize, coordinate, promote and execute the
Hoops for Heroes initiative. There are so many veterans who feel they are unappreciated or forgotten. Little things like this transcend further than you would imagine. Thank you a hundred times.”
In his eight years of service in the Marine Corps Hale was awarded 13 ribbons and medals, including the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal given to those who show meritorious service or achievement in either combat or noncombat based on sustained performance or specific achievement of a superlative nature.
For Hale it was not about the awards or recognition, but about his dedication to his duty to our country.
Here is a list of all of this year’s honorees:
Austin Peay: John Hill III, Donald Koenes
Belmont: Antonio Hale
Eastern Illinois: Justice Long
Eastern Kentucky: Austin “Gage” Colson
Jacksonville State: Nate Sallans
Morehead State: Ryan Bowman
Murray State: Mark Kennedy
Southeast Missouri: Michael T. Council
SIUE: Al Suguitan
Tennessee State: Cormen Michal Crook
Tennessee Tech: Shane West, Dylan Beaver
UT Martin: Terry Ward