U.S. Army And Pro Football Hall Of Fame Announce High School Athlete Award Finalists

CANTON, Ohio, March 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Army and the Pro Football Hall of Fame today announced the 20 high-school athlete finalists for the U.S. Army–Pro Football Hall of Fame Award for Excellence. The program highlights the achievements of student-athletes across the country.

The Award for Excellence program, which is open to all sophomore, junior and senior level high school athletes in the United States, focuses on athletic achievement combined with excellence in academics and community engagement.

"Athletes and Army Soldiers alike know the importance of adaptability and versatility when working as a team," said Mark Davis, deputy assistant secretary of the Army for marketing. "We are excited to partner with the Pro Football Hall of Fame to recognize these outstanding student-athletes; athletes who excel in their chosen sport, shine academically, and are outstanding members of their communities. We look forward to joining the 20 finalists in Canton, Ohio to celebrate their achievements."

The 20 finalists for the Award for Excellence will be recognized with a formal ceremony at their schools this spring.

2015 Finalists for Award for Excellence
(Alphabetical Order)

• Austin Bell, Broughton High School (Raleigh, N.C.)
• Kelly Blake, Loyola High School (Los Angeles, Calif.)
• Johndre' Bowser, Columbia High School (Columbia, N.C.)
• Courtney Cecere, Forest Hills High School (Sidman, Pa.)
• Robert Creech, Benedictine Military School (Savannah, Ga.)
• Colter Eggemeyer, Festus High School (Festus, Mo.)
• Lydia Els, River View High School (Warsaw, Ohio)
• Lincoln Feist, St. Thomas More High School (Rapid City, S.D.)
• Courtney Lamourex, Bartow Senior High School (Bartow, Fla.)
• William Love, Indian Valley High School (Gnadenhutten, Ohio)
• Tara McFadden, New Brighton Area High School (New Brighton, Pa.)
• Daryl Mitchell, Chapel Hill High School (Douglasville, Ga.)
• Lauren Norris, East Bladen High School (Elizabethtown, N.C.)
• Taylor Peebles, Eustace High School (Eustace, Texas)
• Jake Peevy, Walnut Grove High School (Loganville, Ga.)
• Ian Poveda, Westminster Christian School (Palmetto Bay, Fla.)
• Sophia Poveda, Westminster Christian School (Palmetto Bay, Fla.)
• Caroline Schultz, Northeast High School (Pasadena, Md.)
• Austin Schyvinck, Reedsburg Area High School (Reedsburg, Wis.)
• Zach Ward, Hempfield High School (Landisville, Pa.)

"This is the third year of the program and for the first time ever, finalists will be honored in Canton during Enshrinement Weekend during which time the 2015 winner will be unveiled," stated George Veras, the Hall's Executive Vice President, Chief Revenue Officer and Executive Producer. "Each of the 20 finalists exhibit and reflect the Hall of Fame's values of commitment, integrity, courage, respect, and excellence. These same qualities will serve them well as they move forward."

Each of the U.S. Army-Pro Football Hall of Fame Award for Excellence finalists will be honored in Canton during the 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend. The finalists and one guest will be hosted at a special luncheon on the afternoon of the Enshrinement on Saturday, Aug. 8 in the Hall of Fame's Event Center. The 2015 Award for Excellence winner will be announced at the event.

All 20 finalists and guests will attend the 2015 Enshrinement ceremony that evening at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The Class of 2015 – Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, Charles Haley, Bill Polian, Junior Seau, Will Shields, Mick Tingelhoff and Ron Wolf – will be formally enshrined during the emotional ceremony that is televised nationally on ESPN and NFL Network. The finalists and winner will receive special national recognition during the telecast. The weekend celebration will be capped off when the Award for Excellence finalists and their guests attend the NFL's preseason opener. The Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers battle in the NFL/Hall of Fame Game on Sunday, Aug. 9. The preseason classic is televised on NBC's Sunday Night Football.

For more information on the program, visit: www.goarmy.com/AAB or ProFootballHOF.com/Army

CONTACTS: 

Pete Fierle, Vice President of Communications
Pro Football Hall of Fame
[email protected]; 330-588-3622

Jane Scrivner
Account Supervisor, Weber Shandwick
[email protected]; 952-346-6336

SOURCE Pro Football Hall of Fame