JaCorey Shepherd Recognized with the Haier Achievement Award
WAYNE, N.J. — JaCorey Shepherd, a senior football player at the University of Kansas, has been selected as a recipient of the Haier Achievement Award, which is presented to deserving student-athletes for their accomplishments beyond sports. The announcement of the second of eight Haier Achievement Awards being presented this year was made by John Homlish, senior vice president, Digital Living Business Unit for Haier America, one of the world’s leading television and appliance manufacturers, and Doug Vance, Executive Director of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
“The Haier Achievement Award program creates a platform that helps bring to light those student-athletes who are reaching incredible heights in their non-athletic endeavors and serving as role models for all young people,” said Homlish. “We are excited to recognize inspiring student-athletes like JaCorey to further motivate other young people to achieve and succeed beyond their chosen sport. We commend JaCorey on all he has accomplished on the field, in the classroom and in his community.”
Shepherd, a native of Mesquite, Texas, is on schedule to graduate in May 2015 with a Bachelors degree in management and leadership with an emphasis in entrepreneurship. He is a three-time Academic All-Big 12 Second Team honoree and a four-time Athletic Director’s Honor Roll member. He recently was named the Lee Roy Selmon Community Spirit Award winner and is a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award. He took home the Rock Chalk Choice Award for Best Jayhawk in a Supporting Role and was the University of Kansas nominee for the 2013-14 Big 12 Conference Male Sportsperson of the Year. Shepherd is also active in the community through Big Brothers, Big Sisters where he has established a relationship with a “little brother” Christopher and at local schools where he volunteers as a reader and at carnivals, field days and football clinics.
On the field, the 5-foot-11 190-pound cornerback earned First Team All-Big 12 honors this season. He started all 12 games for the second straight season and led the Big 12 with 19 passes defended while also recording 30 tackles and a team-leading three interceptions, while only allowing two touchdown passes. Additionally, he averaged 20.9 yards on 33 kick returns.
“I am incredibly honored to receive the Haier Achievement Award,” said Shepherd. “During my Jayhawk career it has been very important to me to be as well-rounded of a student-athlete as I could be and to be recognized for my efforts is very humbling. I am proud to represent Kansas football both on and off the field and would like to share this award with my teammates who have supported me throughout my time at KU.”
Haier will officially recognize Shepherd with a plaque and certificate at an upcoming ceremony. In addition, Haier will donate $2,000 to the University of Kansas general scholarship fund and award a Haier 48-inch LED HD television to the school’s athletic department.
The first Haier Achievement Award winner was Elisha Hande, a three-year letter winner on the women’s tennis team at NC State University who maintains a 4.0 GPA with a major in economics and a minor in German. She was a finalist for the 2014 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award, and received the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) community service award in 2012 and 2013 for her work.
Student-athletes from all sports, all schools, and all divisions are eligible for the Haier Achievement Award. Members of CoSIDA and fans can nominate student-athletes at http://achieve.haieramerica.com. Haier will announce eight (8) honorees throughout the year and in mid-March invite fans to vote online for the Haier Ultimate Achievement Award winner. The winner will earn his/her school a $5,000 donation to the general scholarship fund and a Haier 40-inch LED HD television. Additionally, all fans who vote will be entered into a drawing to win a Haier 48-inch LED HD TV.
ABOUT HAIER: Haier America (www.haier.com/us/) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Haier Group, the world’s No. 1 major appliance brand as ranked by Euromonitor International 2013, and a global leader in consumer electronics. Haier employs more than 70,000 people around the world and distributes products in more than 100 countries and regions with global revenues reaching $29.5 billion in 2013.
ABOUT CoSIDA: CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America, www.cosida.com) was founded in 1957 and is a 3,000-plus member national organization comprised of sports public relations, media relations and communications/information professionals throughout all levels of collegiate athletics in the U.S. and Canada. CoSIDA has two primary missions: 1) Assist communications and public relations professionals at all collegiate levels with professional development and continuing education, 2) Play a significant leadership and resource role within the overall collegiate athletics enterprise, thus helping other management groups and their respective memberships deal with the set of communications-based issues that is the most complex and challenging in history.
KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.
