The Houston High School Varsity Football team headed to feeder schools to give high fives and kind smiles to students on the first day of school. Taking advantage of the later starting schedule on the first day of school at the HHS, Coach Will Hudgens will be placing a new focus on celebrating his players as leaders. Among some of the plans in the works for the team, nearly 90 students strong, include several community appearances this season. “It’s powerful to watch them interacting with children,” says Hudgens. “They need to know that there are people looking to them for positive examples and that their actions on and off the field resonate in our city.”

In accordance with the push for more service opportunities, the group has adopted a new hashtag for Twitter, #gmsdwinfromwithin, and Hudgens tells us to expect more random acts of kindness in the near future.

Germantown Municipal Television is getting in on the fun as well. They are creating a series of short player highlights for home games (to play on the new jumbotron). Scholar of the Game, one segment being developed will highlight a player who excels in the classroom as well as the field. Citizen of the Game will then spotlight a player who is exemplifying #gmsdwinfromwithin, either by performing community service or by completing acts of kindness. On September 9th, the first of the two players to be showcased are Pat Gardner and Javonte Barber. Be sure to attend the Houston High vs. Christian Brothers High to see the premiere of those videos.