The East Central MS Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) announces the 5th Annual Jackie Slay “Breakfast of Champions” event on Good Friday, April 15, 2022, at 7:00 a.m. at MSU-Meridian’s Kahlmus Auditorium.
66 student-athletes from middle schools and high schools in a nine-county area will be honored as “Champions of Character” at the event. East Central MS FCA covers Kemper, Lauderdale, Clarke, Neshoba, Newton, Jasper, Leake, Scott, and Smith counties.
The breakfast will feature former pro basketball player and Heisman trophy winner Charlie Ward.
Listed among the most outstanding college athletes in modern history, Ward, a two-sport athlete, was a stellar quarterback in football and an equally impressive point guard in basketball at Florida State University. During his senior year, he won over 30 awards, including the Heisman Trophy, and set 19 school and seven Atlantic Coast Conference records, subsequently leading the FSU Seminoles to their first-ever National Championship under legendary Coach Bobby Bowden. After graduating from FSU, Ward was drafted twice by Major League Baseball and was a first-round draft pick of the New York Knicks. He went on to play for the Knicks, helping the team consistently reach the playoffs six consecutive years from 1996 to 2001. He played eleven seasons as a leading point guard in the NBA in New York, San Antonio, and Houston.
Also recognized will be the winner of the 2022 Mac Barnes/ East Central MS FCA Coach of the Year Award, and Mark Bryan Male and Female Athletes of the Year Award. .
“It is an event unlike any other,” Dusty Culpepper, FCA board member said. “We will be recognizing athletes who are champions of character, and may not be your star athlete, but the ones who live and play with integrity.”
Businesses or individuals who are interested in sponsoring a table can reach Scott Engle, FCA area director, at (601) 683-9586 or sengle@fca.org.
FCA's mission is “to lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church.” https://eastcentralmsfca.org/