he Sigma Phi Kappa Delta's hosted this year's 8th annual Bass Classic Fishing Tournament on March 20th, 2004. Eighty percent of the proceeds go to the Athens Area Child Abuse Prevention Agency, and the remaining twenty percent is donated to PCA America's national office for its national prevention efforts. Approximately one million children are the victims of child abuse every year in the United States and the KD's want to do their part in lowering that number. This event is part of Kappa Delta's National Shamrock fund-raising effort in which collegiate and alumnae members have raised more than $5 million dollars since it's inception in 1984.

The team tournament awards prizes to the first through the fifth place team, with first place being $2,000. In addition to the tournament, the KD's host a cookout with live entertainmnet. This year, the cookout was sponsered by Plantation Buffet and the entertainment was from a local band named Re-Re. The tournament is held at the Sugar Creek Marina at Lake Oconee, and there is an entry fee of $130.oo per boat.

This tournament has expanded incredibly over the past eight years and we have been able to continue donating more and more money to the Athens Area Child Abuse and Prevention Council. This year, our donation total rose to over $23,000 before the prizes were awarded, and the AACAPC recieved over $16,000.

As the boats pulled into the marina at 3pm, the KD's had a blast carrying the captured fish back to the water and dumping them into the lake! This year's first place winners were Sullivan and Waldrop, with a total weight of 18.43 lbs., and the Big Fish award of $400 went to Couch and Couch, who also won second place in the tournament. Congratulations guys...we hope to see you at the tournament again next year!

For more information or to register for next year's Bass Classic click here.