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December 8, 2021 – Community support for athletics will be hard to miss in Brinkley Gym as the Davidson-Davie STORM continues to surge through its 2021-22 season. A new name on the court floor and signage on the outside of the gym comes courtesy of two of the STORM’s biggest fans — and newest sponsors.
“We are so grateful to Justin Strickland of Strickland Brothers 10 Minute Oil Change and Todd Hunt of Jerry Hunt Supercenter for their faith in our STORM athletes and their support for the athletic program at Davidson-Davie,” said Matt Ridge, director of athletics and head men’s basketball coach. “These guys understand how important athletics is to campus life, and they know what a crucial role it can play for individual athletes.”
Justin Strickland is a case in point. A member of the men’s basketball team in its first season after the Board of Trustees voted to renew the college’s athletics program, Justin was ranked first nationally in scoring for the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III, averaging 34 points a game and helping the STORM to a 22-7 record in 2007-08. He was also First Team All-American and named to the All-Academic Team. But more importantly, being part of STORM Athletics helped shape Strickland into what he is today.
“My time at Davidson-Davie Community College was a special time for me,” said Strickland. “Having the leadership of head coach Matt Ridge proved to be life-changing as I carried over the habits taught to me in practice each day. Should someone in the community recognize my name, it is typically for basketball, but it was basketball combined with my business classes that gave me a playing field to develop both personally and professionally. Giving back to our community has been and will remain at the top of my priority list.”
Part of that giving back led Strickland to become a donor to the athletics program and name the court floor that STORM athletes practice and play on. When fans see Justin Strickland Court, they might remember Strickland’s days on the team, but he also wants them to remember what athletics and education can mean for young people over the long run.
“I am a very proud alumnus of our community college and thankful to still have such strong ties to the college,” added Strickland.
For Todd Hunt, support for the STORM comes not so much from his personal experience but from his understanding of how communities work together and support each other.
“Here at Jerry Hunt Supercenter, we spend every day interacting with the local community and couldn’t be more grateful to be in business here,” said Hunt. “And part of that relationship is that we give back, just as the community supports us when they buy their cars. We love being partners with Davidson-Davie Community College and are proud to support athletes and education.”
A new outdoor sign at the entrance to Brinkley Gym signals the support of Jerry Hunt Supercenter.
Visit DavidsonDavie.edu/Storm for all the latest STORM news.
Davidson-Davie Community College (DavidsonDavie.edu), which incorporated Davie County into its name in 2021, is a fully accredited, multi-campus college where students of all ages and backgrounds pursue academic and career-focused education in order to build successful futures. As one of 58 institutions within the North Carolina Community College System, Davidson-Davie offers 125 pathways in over 40 career fields, as well as affordable college-credit coursework to students who plan to transfer to four-year schools. With a mission to serve the changing needs of students competing in a global environment, Davidson-Davie is committed to quality education, innovative and equitable learning experiences, training, and support across a wide range of 21st-century career fields.
Jenny Varner
Vice President, External Affairs
336.224.4685
Jenny_Varner@DavidsonDavie.edu