High School Chair Nomination Name: Jerry Craft Club Attachment: Audience of One, Sprint Coach Newark Memorial High School PAUSATF Member Since: 2007 Nomination: High School Chair Where Jerry Stands? I have been a Coach for High School Track for 9 years, a Youth Coach for 7 years, and Youth Ministry leader for over 13 years. In my 13 years of ministry I saw a need to find an avenue to promote change in young people at an early age. God blessed me with the gift of coaching and gave me an opportunity to share/utilize this gift through Youth and High School Track and Field. In the past 4 years I have seen several athletes I have coached move on to High School. However, what I have also seen is a steady decline in their interest in the sport of Track and Field and in some cases the interest in being successful and productive citizens. This brings me to where I stand. I stand to recapture or stir the interest of young athletes and to cultivate an atmosphere where it is not just about winning or losing on the track, but through Track and Field helping them discover who they are as young a people and as athletes. As an association we have a responsibility to encourage, challenge, and provide the tools for them to succeed beyond Track and Field. We have to equip them with the tools to be great citizens whether they choose to continue Track and Field in High School, College, Professionally or if those choose another path outside of sports. I want to bring back those athletes that have gone to college or are currently in college to share their experiences, volunteer at meets and be visual representations of what being successful beyond Youth Track and Field looks like. This is where I stand!