HARRIS NAMED 2002 NJCAA LEA PLARSKI AWARD WINNER

The National Junior College Athletic Association is proud to announce Jermaine Harris as the winner of the 2002 Lea Plarski Award. Harris, a member of the 2001 national championship Georgia Military College football team, graduated following the fall term and is currently attending the University of South Carolina.

A defensive back for the Bulldogs, Harris was recognized as an NJCAA 1st team All-American and All-Region XVII performer. He was also a team captain for the national championship squad. Head football coach and athletic director Bert Williams remarks, "In the five years I have worked at Georgia Military College, no other student athlete has left such a tremendously positive mark on our program, school and community as Jermaine." In addition to football, Jermaine has also excelled as a leader within the Corps of Cadets at Georgia Military College. Jermaine commanded an entire barracks floor and would have received one of the college's highest honors, Honor Company Commander, had he not graduated early.

The Cadet Corps Regimental Accolade is "Character Above All," and Jermaine followed this statement to the fullest. One particular area Jermaine exceeded the call of duty was in community service. Though required to perform a day's worth of community service each quarter with the cadet corps, Jermaine always went above and beyond. He volunteered to work at a local Special Olympics competition last spring and regularly agreed to go to visit with troubled children at the state hospital. At Georgia Military's last home game, where they completed their first ever undefeated regular season, Jermaine was thoughtful enough to remember a group of visiting veterans and he stopped the team celebration and led the team over to welcome and thank the veteran's for all they had done for their country.

Major General Peter J. Boylan, President of Georgia Military College, describes Harris as, "An above average student, Mr. Harris' embracing of those aspects of education outside the classroom, specifically in character development, made him a role model for all who came in contact with him. He was a proven leader within the cadet regiment, and the other cadets willingly followed his lead. Extremely articulate, he presented himself as a model student and was graceful in the various activities on this campus as he was on the athletic field. His contemporaries looked to him for leadership and guidance, and he gave much of his own time to ensure that others succeeded. He was the first in line and the leader of many community service projects in which students at this college participated, and his participation in these endeavors made a difference not only to the recipients of his largess, but perhaps even more to those whose participation he inspired."

"We feel (Jermaine) is exactly what we are looking for on the field and off to build a championship program," responds Lou Holtz, head football coach at the University of South Carolina. At 6'4", 210 lbs., Harris is credited with 40 tackles, 20 solo tackles, 17 assisted tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 pressures and 4 pass break-ups from his defensive back position for the 2001 season.

Sportsmanship, leadership, community service, academic excellence, athletic ability and achievement as well as other activities within the college are the criteria utilized to determine the Lea Plarski Award recipient. Jermaine Harris epitomizes each one of those characteristics and in recognition of his achievements the NJCAA is proud to bestow this honor on such a deserving young man.