On April 16, Wake Forest students and faculty put their basketball shoes on and hit the court for the third annual Jam for Janey, a fundraiser honoring the life and legacy of Janey Thompson. 

Janey Thompson, a Wake Forest student, passed away unexpectedly in April 2024 from complications from a blood clot. An alumna of Myers Park High School in Charlotte, N.C., Thompson was a passionate student and basketball player. She was a biophysics major on the pre-dental track. Friends described her as “intentional and passionate.” 

“The thing that always pops into my mind when I think of Janey is how intentional she was,” senior and Co-President of Jam for Janey Maddie Shannon said. “Even as a biophysics major she would remember every accounting exam I had and would text me just to check in and wish me good luck.” 

Thompson played for the Wake Forest Women’s Club Basketball Team, which inspired the 3×3 basketball tournament. The tournament raises money for the Janey Thompson Physics Scholarship. Last year, they raised over $130,000, establishing the scholarship for an incoming freshman in Fall 2026. 

“The scholarship really allows for Janey’s legacy to continue and make an impact on future students at Wake Forest,” sophomore and Director Helen Smith said. “I think it is really special that people get to share her love for physics and experience the school that she loved so much.” 

Hank Thompson, a sophomore and member of the Jam for Janey executive board, is Thompson’s younger brother. Throughout the event, he said, he was able to see the true influence Janey had on the community. 

“It has been so amazing to see the impact she had on so many people, and the impact I am able to have on so many people through this event,” Thompson said. “Growing up she was always just my big sister, always someone who I could count on and look for advice whenever I needed it. Seeing how many people Janey had that same impact on and knew and that I know now has been so cool.” 

Preparations began early, with marketing and design committees working to make the event the best it could be. 

“Even prior to playing with my friends in the tournament, I could see how much work and effort went into the fundraiser and all the incredible work the directors did to make it so memorable,” sophomore Anna Benfield said. “I had the best time playing basketball with my friends and experiencing something that Janey loved so much.” 

Leading up to the tournament, many organizations around campus showed their support through fun events. Delta Delta Delta sorority hosted a bake sale with proceeds going towards the scholarship, and also placed hearts around campus where students could write what they loved most about Thompson. 

The final week before the tournament was key in boosting donations. On Match Day, when every contribution was doubled, Jam for Janey raised over $25,000 in 24 hours. 

“It is so amazing to see the scholarship come to life through events leading up like Match Day, and I think it is so cool that the campus is honoring it as such a wide philanthropic event,” junior and executive member Sadie Scott said. 

Students and faculty brought the energy and enthusiasm to the event, gearing up to face off in basketball games and move through the bracket towards the championship. Many of Thompson’s close friends and family from home came out in support as well.

“The size of the event hasn’t gotten any larger since we started three years ago, but the support we have received has grown immensely,” Scott said. “Even though as time goes on [and] fewer people remember her, even more people want to show up, and we are so grateful for the Wake Forest community to show up and show their love for the event.” 

At the end of the event, the executive team announced the community raised a total of $89,771.28 for the physics scholarship in Thompson’s name. 

“For future years I think it would be amazing to have four students receiving the physics scholarship, so one person from each grade is able to take part in it every year,” Shannon said. “I think collaborating more with the cardiovascular industry and EMT in any way would also make a huge impact on the event and further research.” 

The team hopes the event will last for generations, becoming a campus-wide tradition like Hit the Bricks or Wake N’ Shake that brings students together in a shared sense of purpose and community engagement.