CANTON, Ohio, Aug. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the U.S. Army and the Pro Football Hall of Fame named high school student-athlete Emily Scott of Elizabethtown, N.C., as the 2017 U.S. Army-Pro Football Hall of Fame Award for Excellence winner. Scott, one of 25 finalists vying for the honor, was announced as the winner of the prestigious award during a luncheon at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Event. Eight "Gold Jackets" (living Hall of Famers) – were on hand to help present Scott with the award.

The Award for Excellence program highlights the achievements of student-athletes across the country. Open to all sophomore, junior and senior level high school athletes in the United States, the program focuses on athletic achievement combined with excellence in academics and community engagement. All 25 of the finalists were on hand at the luncheon.

"Every one of these guys in here with a gold jacket, they were born an ordinary person, and every one of these finalists were born ordinary people. Some of you may have good genes, but it's what you decide to do with it that matters," said Mark Davis, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Marketing. "By choosing who you want to surround yourself with, or being lucky enough to be surrounded by awesome parents, you have made choices to get to where you are – and you have made wise choices. You're driven. You're driven to succeed and you inspire all of us."

"How do we find people to form the character of our country. To be the leaders of tomorrow. To be more than what we are – which is what all parents want their children to be. We like to think that our partnership with the U.S. Army optimizes that. These are the people who have the highest character. We have our five values here at the Pro Football Hall of Fame and they have their seven at the U.S. Army," stated David Baker, the Hall's President and Chief Executive Officer. "There are only 175 Gold Jackets alive today, but the best 25 high school students in the United States are in this room today. You all excel in athletics, academics, and community service. And you guys have not only been identified as the best for your high school careers but as those who might be the best moving forward."

The finalists and their guests will attend the 2017 Enshrinement Ceremony this evening at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium that will be televised nationally on ESPN and NFL Network.

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

@GoArmy and @ProFootballHOF
#Award4Excellence

Contacts:   
Rachel Gutting, Communications Coordinator
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Rachel.Gutting@ProFootballHOF.com; 330-588-3671

Tara Calbat, Account Group Manager
Weber Shandwick    
tcalbat@webershandwick.com; 619-250-2625

ABOUT THE ARMY MARKETING AND RESEARCH GROUP (AMRG)
The Army Marketing and Research Group (AMRG) is the U.S. Army's national marketing, marketing research and analysis and accessions analysis organization. The AMRG develops innovative and effective ways to: connect with the American public and make the Army more accessible and understood; increase awareness of both the benefits and value of Army service; and motivate the most qualified candidates to choose the Army as their service of choice.

ABOUT THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
Located in Canton, Ohio, the birthplace of the National Football League, the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit institution with the Mission to Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values, & Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE.

Hundreds of thousands of fans from across the globe travel to Canton annually to experience "The Most Inspiring Place on Earth!" that chronicles America's most popular sport.

Construction on Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village, a $700 million development project that includes nine main components, is under way in Canton to transform the Hall of Fame's campus.

For more information about the Pro Football Hall of Fame, please visit ProFootballHOF.com; @ProFootballHOF on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube.

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SOURCE U.S. Army