As the Patrick County High School football, volleyball, and golf teams begin their seasons, many citizens are working to generate public support for PCHS athletics and to raise funds to benefit the high school. These groups should be commended for their work to raise our community's "Cougar Consciousness", a spirit of community support and pride in our PCHS teams.
This enthusiasm for PCHS athletics was apparent Friday night as the Patrick County High School Alumni Association hosted a tailgate party before the Cougars took on cross-the-border rival North Stokes High in a preseason game that served as a tune-up for this Friday night's regular season opener against Carroll County at home. "We're here looking for another great season (last year the PCHS football team finished as the Piedmont District runner-up and went to the regionals)," said Rickie Fulcher, President of the PCHS Alumni Association, adding, "we're excited to be here and be a part of it."
"We're staying busy," said Fulcher, noting that the PCHS Alumni Association, formed just a couple of years ago, is conducting fund-raisers for various PCHS projects. The alumni organization has already raised money to provide scholarships, upgrade the sound system at John D. Hooker Field, and to install a utility shed at the field. The group's main project now is to raise money for renovation of the PCHS auditorium, an ambitious $100,000 project that is being supported by other groups in the community including the Patrick County Partnership for the Arts.
As part of the fund-raising activities, the Patrick County Cattlemen's Association served steak sandwiches at the tailgate party and the PCHS Alumni Association served hotdogs and hamburgers during Friday night's 59-22 victory by the Cougars over North Stokes in a scrimmage game for the Cougars and an official regular season game for the Vikings.
"We want everyone to think of us as an organization that's here to help other organizations," said Fulcher of the PCHS Alumni Association. For more information, visit www.patrickalumni.com.
"There seems to be a lot of community involvement now," said Fulcher with regard to work being done by the alumni association and other groups to support the Cougars academic and scholastic programs and our public schools in general.
Another key supporter that is raising "Cougar Consciousness" is the newly-renamed Patrick County High School Cougar Club (formerly the Athletic Boosters Club) which is guided by Kelly Witt. I am scheduled to interview Kelly and the school system's new activitities director Todd Purdham this week.
In his newly-created position, Mr. Purdham will oversee the PCHS athletic program and serve as the coordinator of athletics throughout the Patrick County Public School System, working closely with Recreation Director Clyde Crissman.
Always know as a baseball power, the Patrick County High School athletic program, fueled by rising "Cougar Consciousness" in the community, is emerging as comprehensive, well balanced operation that fields teams and individual athletes that are highly competitive in all sports.
Be a "Cougar Conscious" cheerleader! I urge you to don your green and gold and come out Friday night, Aug. 29th, to cheer for the Cougars as they go against a touch Carroll County team in their regular season and home football opener. Go Cougars!!!
Until next time, may God bless you with a "great day"!
Richard Rogers,
A proud Patrick patriot
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