MUNCIE, IN — Many Ball State athletes understand that success lies within how strong your relationships are with your teammates. However, Ball State placekicker Jackson Courville understands that his relationship with his Muncie community is just as important.
Many fans can spot Courville at Ball State Men’s Basketball games, on the court as well as around the concourse providing hospitality to fans. His two reasons for getting so involved despite his busy schedule are truly inspirational.
“I’m a marketing major and I figured I needed to get some work experience, and with not having many opportunities to travel for internships because of my sport, I tried to find something I could stay in Muncie for,” Courville said.
Work experience is not the only reason Courville can be found dedicating his time to his community. Courville also enjoys putting a smile on the faces of fans.
“There was a little kid also named Jackson, and he did one of our layup challenges, and he wasn't very confident at first, so we hyped him up… it was cool to see how he was feeling after that, the big smile on his face and giving him a prize and seeing how that made his day,” Courville said as he reminisces about his favorite memory from his time with his community.
Despite a work-life balance of 5 a.m., workouts with the football team and his time as a student-athlete, Courville always finds a way to get his motivation.
“The thing that inspires me the most is when I get to talk to my parents or my dad… when I talk to my dad, I can hear how much he believes in me, and I know I can keep pushing,” said Courville.
Contact Stephen Grata with comments at stephen.grata@bsu.edu.
