william jackson
A Giant Comes To Andrew Robinson
Similar to the story Gulliver's Travels (1726) a giant recently visited the young men of
Andrew Robinson Elementary School. This giant was not stranded on an island like the
story by Jonathan Swift, but visited ARE to bring encouragement, friendship and instill
the value and power of education, and importance of going to college. Allie Schmidt of
Public and Community Relations with the Jacksonville Giants organization made this
awesome and educationally potent visit possible, extending the hand of partnership and
cooperation between the Jacksonville Giants and Andrew Robinson Elementary School.
Attending the visit and providing light entertainment was Mr. Biggs the mascot of the
Jacksonville Giants ABA team.
The week of “Jacksonville Goes To College” provided students at Andrew Robinson
a visit from Andrew Dikas, a talented Jacksonville Giant basketball player.
Mr. Dikas spoke to the fourth and fifth grade young men about the importance of getting
a quality education. He praised how education provides the tools for students to take care
of themselves and their families when these young men grow into adults. Relating to his
experiences growing up in South Florida and attending Nova High, excelling in athletics
and working hard to make good grades. Mr. Dikas shared with the students how he
had dreams when he was in elementary school, but knew he had to have a college
education to make them come true.
Mr. Dikas talked about graduating from Brewton-Parker College with a Bachelors degree
so he could be prepared not just in sports, but in business. To have more than just
basketball skills to live on, but skills that will last a lifetime through education. Mr. Dikas
shared that it takes talent, determination, and sacrifice to play professional sports, but
many try out for sports and few really make it.
He talked about the importance not to rely just on sports as a career, that having a college
education is important because it provides a foundation for a better life and gives a person
something to fall back on for support.
Mr. Dikas and the Jacksonville Giants are the Southeast Division basketball champions in
the American Basketball Association with a record of 23 wins and no losses. The Jacksonville
Giants have formed a community partnership with DCPS; Andrew Robinson Elementary
School was honored to be the first school to be visited this school year by a Jacksonville
Giants player and looks forward to more visits and participation by the Jacksonville Giants
organization to help develop great minds that are college bound and career successes.
Andrew Robinson Elementary Physical Education teacher William Jackson appreciates the
time that community members like the Jacksonville Giants take to come to the elementary
school to share their experiences in life and the importance of education. Coach Jackson a
teacher with DCPS and a Professor at Edward Waters College sees the importance of a
strong foundation from elementary school through college and encourages students to set
high goals, develop strong academic work habits and the importance of reading every day
creates lifelong learners.
Photos of the Jacksonville Giants visit:
http://photobucket.com/jacksonvillegiants
Written by William Jackson, M.Ed.
Andrew Robinson Elementary
duvalschools.org/are
Jacksonville Giants
www.jacksonvillegiants.com
