December 14, 2024
Happy Birthday to the late, Ernie Davis! The famous #44 is the Express namesake and we continue to find ways to honor Elmira-native, Ernie Davis!
Ernie's memory lives on through District pride, promotion of key characteristic traits of Ernie’s, and a memorial scholarship in his honor. Administered by a community committee, the Ernie Davis Memorial Scholarship is open to seniors attending high school in Chemung County or Corning, NY. This year, Elmira High School senior Mia Capilli, is an applicant to the scholarship. This past week, leading up to Davis’ birthday and the holiday season, Mia is working on her scholarship project. As one of the main goals of the memorial fund is to continue teaching Ernie’s legacy, Mia visited elementary classrooms through the District this week with a lesson and project on Davis. Students learned about who Ernie Davis was, why we are The Express, and how to be kind even when we don’t expect anything in return.
While Ernie Davis is known as a football star at Syracuse University, Davis' life was cut short by his battle with leukemia. At Mia’s suggestion and organization, students created holiday cards that will be mailed to pediatric cancer patients at the children’s hospital in Syracuse. This is in honor of the late Ernie Davis.
Mia is a shining example of living Ernie’s legacy – thank you for sharing these important lessons with our students! #GoExpress