Head boys basketball coach Dr. Stefan Smith (left) and varsity football and basketball player Jamarion Davis, a senior, (right) pose in the social studies hallway on May 2. Davis received the Dr. Miller Jordan Jr. Memorial Scholarship for the 2023-24 school year. “(The scholarship recognizes) some people who (were) kind of rough around the edges when they first got here, maybe some things that they didn’t quite understand early on that they understood later. You saw the maturity in whoever the kid was,” Smith said. “And that’s what Dr. Jordan kind of represented. He would take kids under his wing and kind of guide them through. Then, in the end, you’ll see a difference and he’ll kind of be able to talk to them and get a message across to them that other people couldn’t get across.” Photo by Aza Khan
The Dr. Miller Jordan Jr. Memorial Scholarship recognizes a student who grew from freshman to senior year, and varsity football and basketball player Jamarion Davis is the 2024 recipient.
Varsity football and basketball player Jamarion Davis, a senior, is the recipient of the 2024 Dr. Miller Jordan Jr. Memorial Scholarship.
Davis was notified of his award on April 29 and will be announced as the winner at Senior Honors Night on May 20.
“It means a lot because I came from not having my parents and it just means a lot that I can do something like that and show people that I’m misunderstood sometimes,” Davis said. “It means a lot.”
Jordan, who the scholarship is named after, was a CCHS Associate Principal from 2000 to his death in 2007. Every year since the spring of 2008, the Dr. Miller Jordan Jr. Memorial Scholarship recognizes a graduating senior whose approach to school changed from freshman to senior year.
“It’s very important because it’s gonna always keep Miller Jordan’s memory alive, and we could always recognize a kid that maybe didn’t start off as great as we wanted them to, but they ended up flourishing in whatever they’re doing.”
— Dr. Stefan Smith,
head boys basketball coach
“(Jordan was a) great man. Real funny guy, always had a good joke for you. Always uplifted your day,” head boys basketball coach Dr. Stefan Smith said. “Good administrator, too. He handled situations with care and patience. He (was) real patient while he handled things, especially discipline issues.”
Smith, who worked with Jordan during his time at CCHS, values the Dr. Miller Jordan Jr. Memorial Scholarship for celebrating students and Jordan’s contributions to CCHS.
“It’s very important because it’s gonna always keep Miller Jordan’s memory alive, and we could always recognize a kid that maybe didn’t start off as great as we wanted them to, but they ended up flourishing in whatever they’re doing,” Smith said. “So he was that kind of guy. He always kind of helped kids flourish and do better than what they were and we saw changes in a lot of kids that he dealt with around you when we were at Clarke Central.”
Head boys basketball coach Dr. Stefan Smith (right) consoles varsity football and basketball player Jamarion Davis, a senior, (left) during the Gladiator’s 68-54 loss to Seckinger High School on Nov. 28, 2023. Smith experienced Davis’ transition from freshman to senior year, which earned him the Dr. Miller Jordan Jr. Memorial Scholarship. “He was a leader in his own way. He didn’t say a lot, but he led by example. And he would tell kids, ‘Man, chill out, it’s not like that’ and ‘Coach just trying to tell you this,’” Smith said. “He was really getting my message across to the other guys.” Photo by Aza Khan
Davis started his high school career in a different place than he is ending it, a change he is proud of.
“I was bad in ninth grade like I was skipping and I was doing a lot,” Davis said. “I had changed my ways, started hanging with the right crowd, started going to class, then started making all As and Bs. Every single day, I just been locked in with school.”
Along with changing his perspective towards school, Davis was impacted by the people around him.
“My coach Nate (Curry), being with him, he changed me a lot. He gave me the game to life like, ‘Yes, sir, no, sir’ and reading and writing,” Davis said. “My brothers, they motivated me, too. I used to see them get all A’s and stuff while they in school, so that really motivated me. Then, the people that are around like my classmates. They used to have bad grades and stuff, I ain’t want to be like them.”
Smith first encountered a freshman Jamarion when he coached the junior varsity football team. In the years since, he’s seen a transformation.
“My thing with him is the way he’s handled situations earlier, and the way he handles them now, is totally different. If somebody fouls him hard or something doesn’t go right, he was automatically ready to blow up,” Smith said. “But I saw where he matured and understood that that’s not the way to always honor the situation. He handled the situations that came up later a lot better than he did when he was a freshman or sophomore.”
The maturation Davis and positivity showed on the court, also took place in the classroom according to English department teacher Jennifer Tesler, who had Davis in her fall Multicultural Literature.
“Jamarion has high aspirations for the future. His academic and athletic strengths will help him reach his goals,” Tesler said. “Although he started class more reserved, over time, he began to share his life experiences and the challenges in class discussions. He also found confidence as he experimented with a new skill, writing poetry. Crafting poetry was challenging, but Jamarion’s not the kind of kid to give up easily. This was evident from the start.”
Varsity football and basketball player Jamarion Davis, a senior, (left) interacts with English department teacher Jennifer Tesler (right), whose Multicultural Literature class he took during the fall semester of the 2023-24 school year. Davis received the 2023-24 Dr. Miller Jordan Jr. Memorial Scholarship, which recognizes a student who positively changed from freshman to senior year. “Jamarion leads on the football field and in the classroom. He’s outgoing, witty and respectful to teachers and peers,” Tesler said. “He took our literature class seriously, was self-directed and was a strong role model who others gravitated to. He was always willing to help those around him academically and behaviorally.” Photo by Aza Khan
Aside from the Dr. Miller Jordan Jr. Memorial Scholarship, Davis also received a full football scholarship to Albany State University, which he will be attending in the 2024-25 school year.
“I only had the mindset to graduate high school, I ain’t never knew I was gonna make it to college, though,” Davis said. “Then, (Albany State) had gave me a full ride, so I was like, ‘God gave me an opportunity to play football’ and I took it. I decided to play football. I decided to go to college.”
Overall, Smith is proud of what Davis has accomplished to earn the Dr. Miller Jordan Jr. Memorial Scholarship and looks forward to his next steps.
“He was our glue guy. He kept everything together in his own way because he had his own way about doing things. He was a solid leader, he really was,” Smith said. “He fits this scholarship because he has made strides in his attitude and the way he goes about doing things and I’m looking forward to his future. Hopefully, he keeps the unselfish attitude that he has and he’ll go a long way.”
