John A. Logan College Athletic Director Jerry Halstead revs up the engine of this classic black Harley-Davidson Superlow Sportster at a press conference Wednesday. The athletic department is raffling off chances to win the bike, which will be given away Christmas Eve at the Black Diamond Harley-Davidson store in Marion. Tickets are $10 each or three for $20 and may be purchased at Logan’s athletic department or even this weekend at the National Hunting and Fishing Days celebration at the campus. Additional prizes that will be raffled off include gift packs from JALC and Black Diamond. Also pictured are from left: men’s golf coach Tom Ferris, softball assistant coach Angie Jilek, assistant men’s basketball coach Zach Carpenter, head softball coach Bruce Jilek, women’s head basketball coach Marty Hawkins, women’s basketball assistant coach Amanda Buldtman and Vice President for Administration, Dr. Tim Daugherty.

The John A. Logan College Athletic Department is raffling off a Black Diamond Harley Davidson Sportster motorcycle for Christmas.

Tickets for the fundraiser are $10 each or three for $20. A purchase of a three-pack of tickets gives the buyer not only three chances to win the bike, but also six additional chances to win an athletic department prize package or Black Diamond store prize package.

All proceeds raised from the raffle benefit JALC Volunteer athletics. Tickets are on sale now and for the next three months in the athletic office and at various locales throughout the district, including this weekend on campus during National Hunting and Fishing Days.

“Given today’s economic climate and recent budget cuts, it has become imperative that we, as an athletic department, look for new avenues to raise money in order to maintain the high standard of performance that we have achieved and grown accustomed to over the years,” said Athletic Director Jerry Halstead.

Halstead said he his hopeful that the raffle will appeal to a wide variety of area residents, even those who are not all that sports-minded.

“There are motorcycle enthusiasts throughout the region, which makes winning this bike appealing,” he said. “But even if you’re not an enthusiast, you could sell the bike for a nice profit and still know that you helped out seven JALC sports in the process.”

Jeremy Pinkston, marketing director for Black Diamond Harley-Davidson in Marion, said the company has been a partner in 14 different motorcycle raffles this year alone.

“Each one has been a success in helping the organization raise money,” he said. “The motorcycle that Logan has chosen for its first raffle is a 2011 Sportster Superlow.”

The drawing for the bike and gift packages will be held Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve) at Black Diamond Harley Davidson in Marion.

To purchase raffle tickets, contact Myschelle or Tracy in the athletic office at 985-2828, X8369 or x8439.