Jama Sharp and Kyle Sikora are the Female and Male Student-Athlete of the Month for January 2015.

Jama Sharp: Female Student-Athlete for January

Jama Sharp has the rare ability to characterize herself with a word most athletes can only dream of: perfect. Now in her fourth and final season as a member of the Women’s Basketball team, Sharp has not missed a single game since first donning the uniform her freshman year. She has received a multitude of athletic and academic accolades in her four years and etched her name in the record books.

A Sport Business major from Mooresville, Indiana who boasts a 3.5 grade point average, Sharp won’t be completely hanging up her shoes after the 2014-2015 season. She hopes to be a coach one day and has her sights on the highest level of collegiate play possible. Dr. Matt Wilson, an Associate Professor of Sport Business and a member of the University’s Athletics Committee, noted the strong connection between Jama’s course work and her intended career path. “In today’s marketplace coaches have to be able to wear multiple hats,” said Wilson. “They use sales techniques when selling their program to their recruits and communities. They have to be able to communicate their vision to players, coaches, administrators, and their fans. Finally, coaches have to be able to network and build contacts throughout recruiting and the coaching profession. These are the fundamental skill sets effective sport managers must have to be successful and what we focus on in the Sport Business major.”

Instructor of Sport Business and former general counsel and deputy commissioner at the LPGA, Elizabeth Galloway, worked with Jama both in the classroom and as a part of an internship course. “When I observed Jama with others, it’s clear she makes a good impression,” said Galloway. “Part of that is she’s a very good listener, but she also inspires confidence in others. I think a big part of that comes from being a student athlete. She has gained confidence from her sport and she can now project that same confidence in the workplace.”

Jama is highly decorated by any definition, but perhaps the most prestigious addition came just recently. It was announced that Jama is a finalist for the Senior CLASS award, an honor given to thirty male and thirty female Division I college basketball players nationwide who exhibit excellence in four categories: community, classroom, character and competition.

While her time as a Hatter is not over yet, Dr. Wilson captured the legacy that Jama will leave behind. “Jama is a strong representation of the highest quality student athlete that we produce here at Stetson and we’re proud to have her as a part of the Sport Business program. We look forward to her being a tremendous ambassador of our program and this university.”

Kyle Sikora: Male Student-Athlete for January

Kyle Sikora, a graduate student and senior on the Men’s basketball team, has been a very busy man since first stepping onto campus three years ago. Sikora is currently a part of the accelerated Master of Business Administration program, a twelve-month course of study he began in the summer of 2014 and will complete in May 2015. While balancing a full graduate course load and a long competitive season, Sikora has maintained a 3.55 grade point average. A transfer from Oakland University in Michigan, Sikora has only been with the Hatters for two seasons. However, he has risen as a leader on the team due to his ability to make sacrifices, manage his time, and look towards the future.

Associate Professor of Management Dr. John Tichenor noted that Kyle’s work ethic was evident right away. “Kyle began his studies at Stetson in a summer session in which the class is pretty intense – we covered a lot of material in each class,” said Tichenor. “It was clear from the beginning of class that Kyle was going to stay on top of his work and not fall behind.”

Tichenor also pointed to a natural relationship between the coursework in this program and skills necessary once Kyle has completed his time as a Hatter. “From basketball practices to travel schedules, workouts, and coursework, Kyle must balance many priorities,” he continued. “This will be an invaluable asset in his business career.”

Stetson head Basketball Coach Corey Williams has certainly witnessed Kyle’s work ethic and ability to manage his time firsthand. “He puts the time in to make sure he’s successful. He is always reading, always studying, he always has his books with him,” said Williams. “He is determined to be a high-level student athlete.” When asked Kyle’s place an academic role model, Williams added, “Everyone recognizes him as someone who is successful academically, and that is one of the reasons his voice really matters to this team.”

by Sarah Frohnapfel