(Story Courtesy of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference web site).
DJ HICKS OF CENTENARY COLLEGE, a senior forward on the men's basketball team, has been selected the SCAC Character & Community Male Student-Athlete-of-the-Week for the week beginning October 5, 2015.
The SCAC honors the efforts of student-athletes who excel in the field of athletics, and also serve their campus and community.
Hicks is a communication major at Centenary. Besides being a member of the defending conference champion Gents men's basketball team, he is very involved in the local community. He has volunteered with the Caddo Parish Animal Shelter and clothing drives with Goodwill and the Fuller Center. At Centenary, he serves on the Big Event Executive Board. The organization coordinates a large scale, day of service which unites Centenary with its surrounding neighbors to build relationships, express gratitude, and enhance the community that has supported the college for more than one-hundred years.
Other organizations DJ is involved in include serving as the Editor in Chief of the Pandora, which is a fine arts magazine published by students of the college. DJ also is a leader in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, is a Resident Life Assistant, serves in the Multicultural Student Association as the Vice President of Finance, and is an international student ambassador.
On the conference level, DJ serves as an SCAC representative.
Besides individual community service, Hicks and the Gents men's basketball team has volunteered for more than 300 hours of community service in the surrounding River City areas the past couple of seasons. Earlier this school year, the team lent a hand at Common Ground in Shreveport. Common Ground provides a free meal every Thursday night while also distributing groceries to members of the community. The center also provides after school tutoring for students. Members of the basketball team were able to interact and even play basketball with local Shreveport kids.
"DJ has been such an awesome player to coach for three seasons," said head coach Adam Walsh. "What people might not know about him is that he is an even better person off the court. DJ does so much for the College both academically and athletically, it is extraordinary that he spends his free time giving back to the community. This is a much deserved award as DJ will be successful this season not only on and off the court, but will be also be successful in life in whatever path he chooses after graduation."
In the 2014-15 season for the Gents, Hicks played in 12 games with one start.
