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 Ģ������ƵStories      December 8, 2025

By Julia Duvall

Earlier this month, Ģ������Ƶ Athletics welcomed more than 1,000 Jackson County Public Schools students to campus for its annual Education Days basketball games—bringing early holiday cheer and an unforgettable afternoon of hoops.

Over two days, elementary and middle school students filled the Liston B. Ramsey Center to cheer on the Catamounts during men’s and women’s basketball matchups.

“Education Days are truly one of our favorite promotions during the athletic season,” said Chad Gerrety, senior associate athletics director for external affairs. “Having thousands of kids experience a Catamount basketball game is special for many reasons. It provides kids with a chance to visit campus, many of which have never been to WCU. It also lets the kids experience a Division I sporting event in a fun interactive environment. It could lead to the children becoming life-long Catamount fans.”

Education Day has been a tradition for women’s basketball for many years, and WCU added the men’s game a few years ago. Students in grades 1–4 attend the women’s game, while grades 5–8 attend the men’s game.

Dana Ayers, superintendent of JCPS, emphasized the impact of the event:

“Chad has been an integral part of early planning to accommodate our school needs and schedule. Perhaps most interesting is that many of our students haven’t been on the Ģ������Ƶcampus or had the opportunity to visit. We are fortunate to have a community college and a university in our community. The chance for more than half of JCPS students to visit a college campus and experience a college basketball game is meaningful and fun for them all.”

The men’s game also featured a special holiday surprise: Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Heritage donated wrapped gifts, which Ģ������ƵAthletics placed on the court for children who may need extra community support during the season.

Students enjoyed interactive games during timeouts and halftime, sang along to favorite children’s songs, and even received a visit from Santa Claus.

“Our student-athletes enjoy the experience as well,” Gerrety said. “It’s definitely one of the loudest games we will play in this season. We appreciate the support we receive from the schools and our sponsors. We are also really grateful for the teachers who make the day possible.”