AUBURN, Ala. – For the first time in three years, the Hudson Family Foundation welcomed 1,200 elementary school students to its Legends Club pep rally Thursday at Neville Arena.
Students from Auburn City Schools, Opelika City Schools and Lee County Schools Tiger Walked into the venue, greeted by Aubie, cheerleaders and Tiger Paws, and the Auburn University Marching Band.
The foundation's Legends Club asks teachers to nominate students for their effort, initiative, integrity, discipline and service.
"To be in this club, you have to be someone special," Auburn legend Bo Jackson told the students via video. "You have to be special in the classroom and at home. You have to have people like your teachers to nominate you to be in this club. That's why you're here."
Each Legends Club honoree received a $100 Kroger gift card to help provide Thanksgiving dinner for their families.
1,200 students from three school systems attended the event at Neville Arena
In its seventh year, the program Is one of the signature events of the Hudson Family Foundation, which seeks to build self-esteem, pride and hope in school-age children overcoming challenges. Pandemic protocols prevented an in-person celebration in 2020. Last year, Tim and Kim visited several elementary school assemblies.
"It's just not the same as having everybody together," said Kim Hudson, thanking the teachers who nominated the Legends Club members. "There's nothing like being together and seeing pure joy. Our goal is to address food insecurity, encourage these kids and lift them up."
"It's such a privilege," Tim Hudson told the Legends Club inductees. "I want to encourage you to keep striving for excellence in the classroom and at home.
"When you're setting standards really high, it helps people come along with you. Being that leader and setting that example that your brothers, sisters and classmates can look up to, it's going to help everybody be better in the long run."
The former Auburn pitching coach used the Tigers' 2022 run to the College World Series as an example of aiming high and pressing on when opposition arises.
"Keep shooting for the stars," said Tim, the 1997 SEC Player of the Year and a 2021 Auburn University graduate. "Look for something that's awesome and try to achieve it. Don't settle for something that's not greatness. Don't ever let anybody tell you that something's out of your reach. You can do it."
Tiger Walk: Auburn University cheerleaders, Tiger Paws and marching band members welcomed the students
A veteran of 17 Major League Baseball seasons, the 222-game winner encouraged the legends to follow their dreams, whether that meant becoming a teacher, principal, firefighter or baseball player.
"Don't settle for anything less," he said. "If that's what you want to do and that's what your heart is telling you to do, go get it."
"I look forward to this day every year," said Kim Hudson, the 2017 recipient of Auburn University's Pamela Wells Sheffield Awards for selfless service. "They have specifically chosen you for this honor, and it's a responsibility now that you have this honor, to live up to being a legend, being compassionate, helpful and kind and helping someone else around you.
"There's nothing you can't do. We expect to see you here at Auburn in a few years."
Aubie congratulates Legends Club members
Welcome to the Club!
— Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) November 18, 2022
The @HudsonFamilyFdn & @AUTimHudson welcomed 1,200 elementary students from Auburn, Opelika & Lee Co. schools into the Legends Club.
Each student receives a gift card to help their families at Thanksgiving.
"One of our favorite days of the year"#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/IXSgWcHTpJ
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer