THE 2004 WATKINS AWARD FINALISTS -13th Annual Award

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02/25 -- Darius Walker named 2004 Watkins Award Winner!

BLACK SCHOLAR-ATHLETES NAMED


December 15, 2003 - The National Alliance of African American Athletes (The Alliance) announced today the selection of five high school honor students to be recognized for the Franklin D. Watkins Memorial Award. The award is presented each year to the nation's most outstanding African American male high school scholar athletes.

The five finalists are listed below in alphabetical order:

Douglas Dutch of Bowie, MD. Dutch plays football and runs track for Gonzaga High School and has a 3.8 grade point average (GPA).

Theodore Ginn of Cleveland, OH. Ginn plays football for Glenville High School and has a 3.6 GPA.

Daryl Richard of Destrahan, LA. Richard plays football and basketball for Destrahan High School and has a 4.0 GPA.

Allen Smith of Tempe, AZ. Smith plays football, basketball, and participates in track for Corona del Sol High School and has a 3.5 GPA.

Darius Walker of Atlanta, GA. Walker plays football, basketball, and runs track for Buford High School and has a 4.0 GPA.

Only the top black male athletes in the country are invited to apply for the Watkins Award. Finalists are chosen based on their unweighted grade point average, their personal statement, extra curricular activities, community service, and letters of recommendation.

The winners of the 2004 Watkins Award will be honored at an awards banquet on Saturday, February 21st at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina. The keynote speaker will be Bernie Bickerstaff the first coach of the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats. Each winner will receive an award, ring, and dinner in their hometown.

Sponsors include Coca Cola Corp., Dillingham & Taylor Wealth Management, LLC, Alex Haley Racing, Prestige Insurance Group, Compass, Hubbard Automotive and The Charlotte Post. Minneapolis-based Jostens Corporation manufactures and donates the Watkins Award trophy and rings.