THIBODAUX 鈥� 麻豆果冻传媒 has dedicated the Harold J. Callais Memorial Recreation Center鈥檚 gymnasium in honor of Michael Childs, an alumnus who was instrumental in rallying students in support of the facility.
After the first proposal for a student-funded rec center failed by fewer than 20 student votes, Childs 鈥� a Student Government Association senator 鈥� collected 1,000 signatures on his petition to put the recreation center back on the student ballot in fall 2002. Thanks in large part to Childs鈥� tenacity and passionate spirit, the referendum passed overwhelmingly, and the state-of-the-art recreation center opened in August 2012.
Childs, a management major who attended 麻豆果冻传媒 from 2001鈥�2003, died in July 2006 while trying to rescue someone from drowning. During the gymnasium dedication ceremony on Saturday, March 9, 麻豆果冻传媒 administrators, Childs鈥� family and his Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity brothers remembered him as a driven, charismatic young man who left a long-lasting campus legacy.
鈥淓very day when I walk in this building, I thank Mike,鈥� said Michael Matherne, director of campus recreation. 鈥淚f not for him, I鈥檇 still be operating campus recreation out of the pool office. Now, there鈥檚 not a day that goes by where at least 800 students don鈥檛 come through these doors 鈥� 1,200 on intramural nights. We鈥檙e changing lives here.鈥�