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Free Safety Addison Tackles Team's Academic Challenges
by Xavier Jordan
Kenyari - Graphic Designer
Kenyari - Math Tutor
Kenyari - Player
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Kenyari Addison, a football player from Jonesboro, Georgia, has more than just game smarts. He also tutors for the athletic department and the math department. He mostly helps his own teammates, but last fall he also tutored baseball, basketball, soccer and lacrosse players. This semester it's been football and tennis players every Monday and Thursday from 7 to 8 o'clock. He's also on call for the math department.
All varsity sports can require players to attend study hall. It's mandatory for first semester freshmen footballers. Coach Riggins and Linda Laughrun recruited Addison as a tutor for the athletic program when his 3.2 GPA his freshman year earned him recognition on the South Atlantic Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll.
Kenyari is a junior in the classroom and a sophomore on the football field. Coming in as a freshman he has played three different positions. He started out as a quarterback, red-shirted his sophomore year, then returned to the lineup last fall as a fullback. Next season he moves to the defensive side of the ball. He will play free safety. Even though his entire career he has been moved around, he keeps a positive attitude. He plans on staying at Mars Hill over the summer to get stronger and learn the plays. Playing safety is being the quarterback of the defense, knowing what everyone has to do.
"Kenyari is not just a good athlete," says Coach Tim Clifton. "He's smart. He plays smart. He can learn any position."
He could complete his graduation requirements in spring of 2007, but he will be eligible to play another season, so he looks forward to adding a minor to his degree in graphic design.
After he graduates from Mars Hill, he plans on staying at home with his mom for a year to "stack his paper" so he can get on his feet. He wants to buy houses, restore them, and then sell them for a reasonable price for those less fortunate.
Originally a math major, he switched to graphic design. "I want to be an architect, and the courses required for graphic design would better prepare me for my future." He gets paid for his work as a tutor, but he says, "Even if I didn't get paid I would still do it because I enjoy helping people." He is also student teacher for Math 101.
He is the Secretary of the Student Athletic Advisory Council, Big Brother for Ladies of Distinction, former Big Brother for the IXA (a Women's Christian music fraternity.) He does work study in the library. For next year, he has applied to be a Challenger's Helper, one of the people who help incoming freshman get registered for classes and be there to talk to whenever they need someone.
Monday and Thursday evenings in Chambers' Gym, Room 110, Kenayri tutors athletes in any subject they may need help in. On other days he goes down deep under Wall Science Building and teaches math.
He says he won't try to sell you on something he doesn't really know. He tells you straight forward, "I can't help you on this part, but get back with me. I will have the answer." And he will.
Besides football he likes intramurals, basketball, swimming, working out, and watching movies.
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