Feb. 12, 2013

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Athletics Department has partnered with the University’s Office of Multicultural Student Affairs to recognize and celebrate Black History Month. The Gamecocks will participate in campus events and post videos on the official athletics website, GamecocksOnline.com.

To begin the partnership, the athletics department co-sponsored the Kickoff Celebration on campus at the Capstone Conference Center. Significant African-American notes and accomplishments related to the State of South Carolina, the University or the city of Columbia will be distributed through social media and displayed on videoboards at every sport throughout the month of February. In addition, selected student-athletes will share their thoughts on the most influential African-Americans in history in five videos to run on the athletics website.

The department is also encouraging Columbia area elementary schools to get involved with the month’s activities by submitting their best drawings of the most famous African-Americans in history. All photos will be displayed in the concourse of Colonial Life Arena during the Sun., Feb. 24, women’s basketball game against Mississippi State.

The month-long celebration will culminate in a private reception prior to the Feb. 24th women’s game to include the various campus and city groups who have helped in the effort to raise awareness of the contributions of the African-American community to the University, the city and the state. The reception will including University professor Dr. Nicholas Cooper-Lewter as the featured speaker.