The One Team Coalition, created by Valdosta State’s women’s volleyball head coach Kaleigh Zoucha, Associate Athletic Director Jennifer Grubbs and several student leaders within the athletic department, are using a variety of resources to encourage student-athletes to vote.

Taj Taylor, a redshirt junior on the football team, is one of the student-athletes who was selected to be a leader within the athletic department on issues regarding social justice, race equality, diversity and inclusion.

“We gave students an opportunity to learn how to vote if they didn’t know how,” Taylor said. “Other than that, we are working on events that will increase inclusion around campus.”

The One Team Coalition and VSU athletics are keeping students informed about the election and how to participate by an initiative called “BLAZE The Ballot,” which educates students on voter culture and provides resources to student voters.

Voter Vans, driven by volunteer athletic staff and coaches, will be offering rides to the nearest polling location for students wishing to vote.

Visit vstateblazers.com to learn more about these resources and find links to the “BLAZE The Ballot” initiative and Voter Van registration provided by the One Team Coalition and VSU athletics.

The Gulf South Conference Board of Directors has designated Nov. 3 as a mandatory day off from required athletic activities so that student-athletes have the ability to go vote.

Written by Zach Edmondson. Photo courtesy of VSU.