The Tarleton State University Athletics Department has developed a new program, the Junior Texan Club (JTC), to connect the local youth with Tarleton athletes.

“This is a program that Coach (Lonn) Reisman, Susan Burton and I came up with in early May,” Assistant Sports Information Director Nathaniel Bural said. “I personally volunteer with youth in the community and by working with these kids I noticed that they really aren’t very involved in Tarleton athletics more so than just attending the games. I thought that our ‘small town’ situation is a very unique one in the sense that the local kids have some of the nation’s top athletes in their backyard and this program gives them a chance to get involved and get to know our athletes and follow our athletics on a more personal level.”

This program is available for youth entering kindergarten through 8^th grade. With a one-year membership fee of $25, members will receive a Tarleton Athletics bag, a T-shirt, a ‘Bleed Purple’ bracelet, an autographed action photo, a Tarleton Athletics poster and a membership card, which will allow for free access into all Tarleton sporting events.

By joining the JTC, special on-field access during authorized football, basketball, baseball and softball games will be allowed for members to lead the Tarleton teams out before the game.

In addition, JTC members will be invited to a hot dog cookout party at the end of the school year with the Texans and TexAnns. At the cookout, members will get a chance to win an authentic Tarleton jersey.

“The athletes have all had good attitudes about the program,” Bural said. “They are excited about it. They get to know local kids during summer camps and this gives them an opportunity to continue those relationships throughout the season.”

To enroll in the JTC program, print the brochure with the attached enrollment form found at http://www.tarletonsports.com/sports/2013/5/21/GEN_0521135352.aspx?tab=jrtexanclub. Mail the form with the $25 payment to Junior Texan Club c/o Tarleton Athletics, Box T-0080, Stephenville, TX 76402.

“I think this program will allow kids to grow up with a sense of pride in their hometown team,” Bural said. “By growing up in this program, kids will hopefully get to know our athletes and our program. I see kids everywhere claim that Texas or Texas A&M or Texas Tech are ‘their teams’, maybe because they know someone who went there, but if they get to know our athletes then we hope that the kids will grow up saying ‘Tarleton is my team.'”