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SIU graduate student Robert J. Jerry Lewis is determined to dedicate his career to teaching the game of basketball. That wasn\u2019t always the goal, though.<\/p>\n
A Des Plaines native, Lewis came to SIU with hopes of walking onto the Saluki basketball team. Then he injured both of his knees. Instead of letting go of his dream, he simply amended it.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor as long as I can remember, basketball has been my sport,\u201d he said. \u201cSince my injuries dashed my hopes of being able to play the sport, I decided I wanted to teach young people about the game of basketball and the game of life.\u201d<\/p>\n
While earning his bachelor\u2019s degree from the College of Business, Lewis came across a brochure featuring the sports administration graduate program within the Department of Kinesiology. That moment marked the beginning of his new journey.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe kinesiology department helped me view sports from a different perspective,\u201d Lewis said. \u201cI have learned about the human body, exercise science, health, sociology, neurology \u2013 this program has opened up an entire new world.\u201d<\/p>\n
To fulfill the program\u2019s internship requirement, Lewis became a manager for the SIU men\u2019s basketball team. In August, he was chosen for an internship with the Charlotte Hornets.<\/p>\n
Once his stint with the NBA franchise is over, he\u2019ll return to SIU to complete his master\u2019s degree in sports administration. Lewis hopes his story can highlight the importance of kinesiology and encourage others to get involved.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe could really use funds to repair equipment and purchase needed items,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a wide array of items \u2013 from replacement bulbs for projectors to soccer nets to office supplies and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n
To learn more about the Department of Kinesiology, visit http:\/\/ehs.siu.edu\/kinesiology\/<\/a>. To learn more about the needs of the College of Education and Human Services, visit http:\/\/foreversiu.org\/colleges-units\/education.php<\/a>.<\/p>\n Engage with us on LinkedIn<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" SIU graduate student Robert J. Jerry Lewis is determined to dedicate his career to teaching the game of basketball. That wasn\u2019t always the goal, though. A Des Plaines native, Lewis came to SIU with hopes of walking onto the Saluki basketball team. Then he injured both of his knees. Instead of letting go of his … Continue reading Student Spotlight: Kinesiology offers unique path, perspective<\/span>