NEWS

2004 BLACK SCHOLAR-ATHLETES NAMED

National Alliance of African American Athletes Names Finalists for Watkins Award

The National Alliance of African American Athletes (The Alliance) announced today the selection of five honor students as finalists for the Franklin D. Watkins Memorial Award, the nation's first award created to recognize outstanding achievement in athletics, scholarship and community service by African American male high school seniors. The award has been presented since 1992.

The finalists are:

• 
  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.

  
  

According to Everette Pearsall, Executive Director of The Alliance, only the top black male student 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, extracurricular activities and letters of recommendation.

click here for the 2004 awards event schedule