Jamari Grant slams the basketball through the hoop at a Chicago Bulls game as part of the Jesse White Tumblers. (Photo courtesy of Jamari Grant)
Jamari Grant soars through the air at a Chicago Bulls game as part of the Jesse White Tumblers. (Photo courtesy of Jamari Grant)
Jamari Grant soars through the air at a DePaul basketball game as part of the Jesse White Tumblers. (Photo courtesy of Jamari Grant)
Jamari Grant soars through the air at a Chicago Bulls game as part of the Jesse White Tumblers. (Photo courtesy of Jamari Grant)
DePaul senior Jamari Grant loves delighting a crowd. Since 2015, he has performed as a
Jesse White Tumbler, using mats, trampolines and teammates to create awe-inspiring flips and slam dunks. As a DePaul Blue Demon, he’s served in roles with athletics, student government and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
Jamari Grant was named DePaul’s 2024-25 honoree for the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award. (Photo courtesy of Jamari Grant)Late last year, Grant was named
DePaul’s honoree for the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award, given to one senior from each Illinois four-year college by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. As part of the award, he serves as a
Student Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois for 2024-25.
“Jamari’s kindness, compassion, and caring nature set him apart,” says Mark Wodziak, a sociology professor of instruction who has taught Grant in four classes.
Grant graduates in June with a bachelor’s degree in public relations and advertising and a minor in sociology. He hopes to pursue a career in sports entertainment.
Journey to DePaul
A Chicago native, Grant’s life changed for the better after joining the Jesse White Tumblers. The opportunity teaches Grant skills beyond tumbling, he says.
“I’ve learned to read the whole mat, meaning it’s important to understand what each tumbler’s unique skills are and how best to use them. Crowd engagement is also a key skill learned. Even though we’ve done a similar show hundreds of times, there are fans who are seeing us for the first time. I want to make the performance special, personal and unique to them,” Grant says.
In 2021, Grant received the inaugural Marc Jacobson Blue Dream Scholarship, endowed by the eponymous DePaul men’s soccer alumnus who graduated from the Driehaus College of Business in 1986. The scholarship is awarded to a Jesse White Tumbler who attends DePaul and works for Blue Demon Athletics. Grant was paired with DeWayne Peevy, DePaul’s vice president and director of athletics, to learn the ins and outs of college sports.
“Jamari has an infectious energy about him, and he’s fearless,” Peevy says. “From the moment he began at DePaul, he hasn’t been afraid to jump into any situation, from joining the cheer team to working in ticketing, marketing and business. He’s truly made the most of his college experience and set a wonderful example for other scholarship recipients who will come after him.
“Being part of Jamari’s college journey has been neat for me. I’m beyond proud of him, and I can’t wait to see him walk across that stage in June at graduation,” Peevy adds.
Life at DePaul
Jamari Grant with former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. (Photo courtesy of Jamari Grant)Grant has used his time at DePaul to serve others, both inside and outside the classroom. In addition to his roles in DePaul Athletics, he also served in SGA as a College of Communication representative.
Wodziak isn’t surprised by Grant’s desire to serve others. “Jamari not only excels in the classroom but encourages other students to go beyond their abilities and expectations. He consistently served as the bridge between students and me by advocating on their behalf and checking in to make sure they received the support they needed and felt comfortable in the classroom,” Wodziak says.
At the end of his most recent class with Wodziak, Grant presented his teacher with a homemade bracelet that read “mentor.” For Wodziak, this simple gesture was a perfect example of the person Grant is.
“Jamari is a compassionate individual who recognizes the significance of relationships and strives to uplift those around him. It’s this innate ability to make others feel valued and seen that distinguishes him from his peers. The bracelet hasn’t left my wrist since I received it,” Wodziak says.
As Grant wraps up his undergraduate career, he hopes to inspire other Jesse White Tumblers to enroll at DePaul and have the transformational experience as he did. He also wants to mentor middle and high schoolers about higher education and how to find the resources needed to go to college.
“I’ll always cherish the connections I’ve made at DePaul,” Grant says. “DePaul has given me purpose and the tools to push forward. I want to help future generations have a similar experience.”
Russell Dorn is a senior manager of media relations in University Communications.