Albert Harris Elementary students got a big surprise during a special assembly for Attendance Awareness Month when Martinsville High School Varsity Basketball Coach Gary Hall and several of his players stopped by to deliver an inspiring message about the power of showing up.
Coach Hall challenged students to embrace four daily habits: “get up, dress up, show up, and never give up.” He told students that while athletic talent is important, the greatest ability is “availability:" consistently showing up to school and practice is what makes athletes stronger and opens doors to future opportunities.
To drive the point home, Coach Hall shared the story of baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr., nicknamed the “Iron Man” for never missing a single game during his career. Inspired by Ripken, Hall announced the launch of the Iron Man Challenge at Albert Harris Elementary.
Each month, two students who demonstrate outstanding attendance will be selected to receive the Iron Man Award, which includes a scholarship to Coach Hall’s Future Stars Basketball Camp this summer. But the challenge doesn’t stop there — Coach Hall promised that if the entire school had no unexcused absences for the rest of the school year, he will host a free camp for every student at AHES.
During the event, Hall’s players also answered student questions and shared their own reasons for valuing good attendance, emphasizing the importance of discipline, teamwork, and academic success alongside athletic achievement.
The Iron Man Challenge is designed to celebrate and reinforce one of the most important habits for future success — showing up, every single day.