section c
March 3-9, 2010
AWArd FinAlists (front row from left) Evan Washington, Brandon Willis, Eric Reid, Devin
tHe 2010 WAtkins AWArd “Elite Five” (from left): Evan Washington, Dallas; Devin Gardner,
Gardner and David Yankey are pictured with their parents.
Detroit; Eric Reid, Baton Rouge; Detroiter and keynote speaker Jemele Hill, ESPN; Brandon
Willis, Duncan, S.C.; and David Yankey, Atlanta. – Eric Wade photos
Watkins Awards for scholar athletes
By Leland Stein III recommendation.
LOS ANGELES – The National Alliance of
“I’m a senior and I’m taking honors class-
African American Athletes (The Alliance), as it
es,” Reid explained, “so at first I did not want
has for the past 19 years, recently recognized
to do anything extra. I was very busy, but now
the nation’s supreme high school scholar ath-
that I’m here I’m very happy I did the paper-
letes.
work. This is unlike any fraternity I’ve seen in
sports.”
At the Marriott Hotel in downtown Los An-
geles, an exemplary group from around nation
In most cases it takes the parents to push
was feted during the annual Franklin D. Wat-
the students to make the extra effort it takes to
kins Memorial Awards Gala.
be considered for the Watkins Award.
The award is presented each year to the five
However, in the case of Yankey, the Stan-
finalists for the top African-American male high
ford coaching staff cajoled him to apply for
school scholar athlete in the country.
the Award. “My coaches told me I would be a
great candidate for the Award,” he said. Yankey
This year’s collective “Elite Five” is excep-
joins a school that over the years has had more
tional in every sense of the word. All are All-
Watkins finalists than any other university;
American athletes who dispel the lingering
the list is fast approaching 20 Watkins scholar
notion that most African-American male stu-
athletes that have earn athletic scholarships to
dent/athletes are not concerned with educa-
Stanford.
tion, only the playing fields.
“The 2010 Watkins Award features another
These five young men combine scholarship,
year of fine student athletes,” Everette Pearsall,
athleticism, community awareness and volun-
executive director of The Alliance, said. “Each
teerism to form at their young age the charac-
of these young men is well equipped for suc-
ter of developing men that are primed to take a
cess academically. We have continued to recog-
place in society as more than just athletes.
nize and honor the premier African-American
The 2010 Watkins Award finalists are Bran-
scholar athletes in the United States.”
don Willis of Duncan, South Carolina; David
The Watkins Award has been presented an-
Yankey from Atlanta; Evan Washington who
nually since 1992. Previous awardees include
prepped in Dallas; Devin Gardner from Detroit;
Rhodes Scholar Myron Rolle, Justin Blalock of
and Eric Reid out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
the Atlanta Falcons, Ted Ginn Jr. of the Miami
The master and mistress of ceremonies
Dolphins, Lorenzo Alexander of the Washing-
were comedian Lamont King and actress/model
ton Redskins, Mohammed Massaquoi of the
Claudia Jordan. The keynote speaker, Jemele
Cleveland Browns, Darnell Dinkins of the New
Hill, a former Detroit Mumford High and Michi-
eric reid
Orleans Saints, LaVarr Arrington of the New
, winner of the Watkins trophy, with Jemele Hill. – Eric Wade photo
gan State graduate, is now a columnist and
York Giants, Grant Irons and Ronald Curry
television personality for ESPN.
This year’s group is headed to universities “When I first heard about the award I did not
formerly of the Oakland Raiders, Deryck Toles
throughout the country. Washington, an of- know what to think,” Washington said. “But
of the Indianapolis Colts, Marcedes Lewis of
“I think the Watkins Award is a reminder
fensive lineman, is carrying a 3.9 GPA and has after this weekend and meeting all the guys,
Jacksonville Jaguars, Ernie Sims of the Detroit
that there are a number of wonderful Black
enrolled at Louisiana State; Gardner, a quarter- present and past, I’m thankful I made it to the
Lions, and Darius Walker of the Denver Bron-
male athletes out here who are prepared and
back, has enrolled at Michigan and carried a ‘Elite Five.’”
cos.
equipped to be future leader,” Hill said. “Too
3.4; Yankey, an offensive lineman, has enrolled
often we never talk about or highlight young
at Stanford and had an 4.0; Willis, a defensive
To qualify for the Watkins Award the stu-
Visit www.naaaa.com for more information.
men like this. That is what makes the Watkins
end, who has earned a 4.0, is headed to North
dent/athletes have to write an essay, write a bio
Leland Stein can be reached at lelstein3@
Award special. It focuses on the total person
Carolina; Reid a defensive back, is also headed
page that highlights community service and ex-
aol.com.
with education at the forefront.”
to Louisiana State and has a 4.7.
tracurricular school activities, submit official
transcripts and produce at least three letters of
lady chargers raise funds for uPsM volleyball
By F. Carlton Peeples
sity of Michigan and Commu- hands-on career experiences and men/women’s basketball. “I played at the collegiate dren face in lower performing
nity Foundation for Southeast through sophisticated com- level and have also been able school districts.
The Lady Chargers Girls
Michigan and others. munity partnerships.
The Lady Chargers find
themselves playing this sea-
to coach in other school dis-
Volleyball team of University “It’s only been open since Because a comprehensive son’s home games at Plym-
tricts,” she said. “It’s an im-
“You wouldn’t believe the
Preparatory Academy of Sci- the beginning of the school sports program isn’t the main outh Educational Center until
portant part of growing up. I’ve
incredible spirit those kids
ence and Math (UPSM) are year,” said one UPSM student focus of UPSM, the formation they’re able to gather the
been able to see the difference
have,” said Lesley when reflect-
working diligently to raise who attended the school when of a competitive girls volleyball funds needed to purchase and
in these girls as well as myself
ing on her student’s ability to
funds for the purchase of a it was housed in the Compu- program had not been consid- install a regulation volleyball
when I was playing.”
excel at sports and academia.
“They just needed a chance
regulation volleyball net for ware building in downtown ered in the gym’s design. The net. The 90/90 school is at the and a little push, I know my
their school. Currently, the Detroit. Lady Chargers find themselves center of a powerful move- (UPSM) students have more of
team is forced to practice on
The public charter school
at a disadvantage because the
“Unfortunately, it hasn’t
ment to produce vibrant, high- an advantage and can do great
a badminton net, making the
district provides a special-
gymnasium plans failed to in-
been in our budget to be able
hase one,” said UPSM
achieving, college-ready youth in the program.”
opportunity to host games on
ized educational path prepar-
clude previsions for the exis-
to purc
coach Julie Lesley. “Our play-
across Metro Detroit. The
Donations to the team and
ers’ parents have shown tre-
school’s mandate is to gradu-
support of their fundraising
mendous support by sharing
ate at least 90 percent of its
efforts are very much appre-
their fundraising ideas and
students and send at least that
ciated. Julie Lesley can be
volunteering their time.”
same percent on to college
— “no matter what it takes,”
reached via e-mail at Jlesley@
Understanding the need for according to its mission.
uprepsm.com. The school can
physical education and com-
also be contacted directly for
petitive sports, Coach Lesley
Lesley, who taught in Chi- donations and financial con-
volunteered to start the girls
cago’s public schools, knows tributions at (313) 832-8400.
volleyball program.
well what disparities chil-
coAcH Julie lesley with UPSM Girls Volleyball Team.
ing students for the Science,
their own court impossible.
Technology, Engineering
tence of a team.
The new school facility that and Mathematics (STEM) ca- While still a new team at a
was erected beside and con- reers of the global economy. relatively new school, the Lady
nects to the Detroit Science Through Project Lead The Way Chargers are in the midst of
Center, has garnered head- (PLTW) students are prepared developing an athletic culture
lines and praise for its over- to become innovative and pro- at the middle school dedicated
all focus on specialized cur- ductive leaders in STEM fields. to science and mathematics.
Monster Jam 2010
riculum as well as its unique UPSM schools are dedicated Girls volleyball is one of only
partnerships with organiza- to academic superiority, per- three athletic programs of-
Monster Jam 2010 provided an entertaining show for truck enthusiasts. This year’s event took
tions like Ecotek, the Univer- sonalized learning plans and fered at UPSM, including track
place at Ford Field. – Cederick Spencer photo
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28