NEWS

12-18-06

NEWS RELEASE

 For Immediate Release

Contacts: Everette Pearsall 410-551-3462

Event Contact: Gloria Sloan 704-366-9555          

African American Scholar Athletes receive top Honors

 Los Angeles, CA (December 18, 2006) – On Saturday, February 24, 2006, at 6:00pm, The National Alliance of African American Athletes (The Alliance) will recognize another stellar group of high school athletes from across the nation for the Franklin D. Watkins Memorial Award. The award is presented each year to the nation's top African American male high school scholar athlete.

 The five finalists are:  

*  Joseph Barksdale of Detroit, Michigan - Joseph is a member of the National Honor Society, Motor City Makeover, and Class President.  He plays football at Cass Technical High School and has a 3.6 GPA.

*  Andrew Davis of Denver, Colorado -  Drew is a member of Just Say Know, Brother 2 Brother, The Drama Club,  Urban League, and HOPE Community Clean Up.  He plays football for Montbello High School and has a 4.0 GPA.

*  Bradley Stephens of McAllen, Texas - Bradley is member of the National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, PALS and a leader in his community.  He plays football for McAllen High School and has a 3.7 GPA.

*  Trinton Sturdivant of Wadesboro, North Carolina - Trinton is a member of the National Honor Society, Who’s Who, and is Student Council President.  He plays  football, basketball, and track for Anson High School and has a 4.1 GPA.

*  Charles White of Columbia, South Carolina -  Charles is a member of the National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, National Beta Club, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  He plays football at Blythewood High School where he maintains a 3.9 GPA.

The Watkins Award ceremony will be held at the prestigious LeMeridien Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.  

 "The 2007 Watkins Award features another year of fine student athletes," Everette Pearsall, Executive Director of The Alliance, shares.  “Each of these young men is well equipped for success academically. We have continued to recognize and honor the premier African American Scholar Athletes in the United States.”

 Finalists are chosen based on their unweighted grade point average, their personal statements, extra curricular activities, community service, and letters of recommendation. Each winner will be recognized in Beverly Hills, receive an award, ring, and dinner in their hometown.

 Sponsors of this year’s event include Wachovia Securities, Disney, Pink’s Hot Dogs, Remy Martin, Nash Management Group, Chase Bank, Norman Lewis Limosine, Ehlers Cadillac, and Jostens Corporation who manufactures and donates the Watkins Award trophy and rings.

-more-

Media representatives are invited to cover the awards ceremony. For more information about the Watkins Award, The Alliance, or to get tickets for the awards ceremony visit our website at www.naaaa.com or email everedy@aol.com

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The Watkins Award is presented annually to African American scholar-athletes since 1992, the Watkins Award is named for Franklin D. Watkins, the coach of championship football and basketball teams in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  Previous winners of the Watkins Award include Arizona Cardinals Robert Tate, Darnell Dinkins of the Baltimore Ravens, LaVarr Arrington of the Washington Redskins, Grant Irons and Ronald Curry of the Oakland Raiders, Deryck Toles of the Indianapolis Colts, Ted Ginn of Ohio State and Justin Blalock of Texas.

The National Alliance of African American Athletes was founded in 1989.  The mission of The Alliance is to empower African American males through athletics, education and public programs.

The nationwide “Watkins Award “for African American High School Male Scholar Athletes.