National Football Foundation Scholar-Leader-Athlete Award Banquet!

**************************************
Can I say I am one proud mom! Okay, I better say "well pleased" to be politically correct at my house. Either way, I apologize ahead of time because I am going to brag a bit. Afterall, a mother should have bragging rights after giving birth and all those sleepless nights wondering if it will all be worth it someday right? Besides, those paydays don't come as often as they should for us moms, and when they do it's hard not to share. So here goes...

I am so excited to report that my son Taylor received the prestigious award of Scholar-Leader-Athlete by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame! This award is given to only 12 high school juniors out of nominees from 96 state-wide schools and approximately 6000 football players. It is given to football players who have demonstrated outstanding academic success, exemplary community leadership and superior football performance.



















Taylor with NFL player Haloti Ngata who plays for the Baltimore Ravens. He presented the awards to the juniors.

This is the first year that high school juniors have been eligible. The juniors were nominated by their coach and the qualifications were:

*First or Second-Team All-State
*Achieves a GPA of 3.5 or higher
*Demonstrates outstanding football ability, performance and attitude
*Displays proven leader on his football team
*Contributes in a positive way to his community
We didn't even know anything about it until a few days before the banquet when we learned his coach had nominated him and he had won. Even then we had no idea what a prestigious honor this was. We thought it was just some little award that would look good on a scholarship resume. Taylor tends to down play things but even he didn't realize what it was. I guess we should have had a clue when his coach said it was a black tie event. Luckily only the senior winners had to wear tuxes.




















Waiting for the program to begin. It was held at Utah Valley University in Provo.













Foundation President of the Utah Chapter Kevin White welcoming everyone.

Introducing all the dignitaries. It was a Who's Who in Utah football. Every College and University coach was present as well as many other distinguished guests. We saw Stephen R. Covey in the audience. His grandson was receiving one of the awards.

Taylor with the other Juniors from the state being announced and honored.

We always hold our breath when names are announced in our family for awards and such because for some reason our name is jinxed and is overlooked even though it is right there in front of the speaker. Usually I am video-taping waiting to catch the announcement of the name. The last time it happened was when my other son was Valedictorian. They announced all the others and we waited and waited and waited and they never said his name. I turned off the video camera, in shock thinking NOT AGAIN when sure enough as soon as I did they realized they missed it and announced it. I didn't get it on video. This time, they read all the names on the list and once again I was video taping and waited and waited and waited and they never said Taylor's name. This time they never corrected it until the very end of the banquet. Our last name must just become invisible on paper or something. I could write an entire post on that with all the times it's happened.



























Being presented with a pin by Haloti Ngata from the Baltimore Ravens. He was one BIG GUY!
















The food was amazing! Prime Rib among other things!















Haloti Ngata was also presented an award.




















Taylor with Coach Gunter his awesome football coach that nominated him.




















What an exciting evening it was!

This is signed by NFL player Haloti Ngata and Mike Price former coach at Weber State who also received an award.

The pin he was awarded.

We are crossing our fingers he will meet the requirements for next year and maintain his 4.0 so he can be nominated as a senior because if you win while a senior you get a $1000 scholarship among many other cool things. And you get to wear a tux and sit at the head table. That would be the one reason Taylor would NOT want to win! haha

They also said their names will be in the College Hall of Fame in Georgia or somewhere far away, and if we ever get there to go check it out.

One of the best parts of the night was being able to see Bryce since he is attending UVU. We took him shopping for his birthday before the banquet and it was so good to see him for once!

I was actually enjoying not having to worry about all the injuries associated with the sport of football when he is practicing and playing, but tonight he came home with both legs wrapped in ice from track. I think after all this maybe I am looking forward to next year's season after all!

I Just Blinked...

Bryce is now a graduate!














I am not fond of change. Especially the kind that pulls at your heartstrings. Graduation is one of those major changes that I don't like...unless of course it's ME doing the graduating. But for some reason when someone else graduates, instead of feeling joyful and celebratory, I get all teary eyed and melancholy. Especially when it's my own offspring. I guess in many ways it is one of those inevitable time lines that seem to shout (more loudly than I wish to hear) ..."Childhood is now over for good", "Time for that little boy, who is no longer a little boy, to leave the nest and go make a name for himself", It is a cruel way of saying that my time as a mother is up in many ways for that child.

Okay, so maybe I am being just a little overly dramatic here. But, I don't think so. It's hard to let go!!! When my oldest graduated, I don't think it was as hard because he was my first and it was more exciting than sad. Now as my third son starts to spread his wings, the realization that one day they ALL will has hit me hard! I just want this stage of my life, where my boys are gathered here at home to last forever! I can't even bear the thought that one day they will ALL be out in the world and no longer here by my side every day. Oh, that hurts! As the song goes..."the hardest part of love is letting go". ♥ AMEN to that!


There is GOOD to focus on though...



Bryce was named
VALEDICTORIAN
for his high school!

Becoming a VALEDICTORIAN is based on maintaining a 4.0 (straight A's) from his Freshman year through his Senior year. Meaning not even ONE A minus in four straight years. That is NO easy feat! Trust me I know. He was one of 17 named this year from his high school.

He worked very hard to earn this honor and we are so proud of him!!!

These ↓ photos are from the scholarship awards night. (Okay, utilizing my bragging rights as a mom now!)

Bryce earned scholarships to Utah State University, University of Utah, and a Presidential scholarship from Southern Virginia University. His other awards were Academic All State in football and a Letterman in football and hockey. He received cords and a medal for Valedictorian and being in the top 3% of his graduating class.
















































Well okay maybe HE'S not...but this MOM is!!! He didn't even want to attend the awards night. And he wouldn't have IF I hadn't "encouraged" him! :D

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Memorial Scholarship in Tyson's name
Dave and I wanted to keep Tyson's memory alive in some kind of a way that would reflect the life he lived while at the same time help someone else. We decided that giving out a scholarship to someone each year who has overcome hardships in their own life and who may not otherwise qualify for a scholarship based on academics, would be a great way to do that and honor Tyson's name at the same time.

This is Matt the winner of the FIRST Tyson D. _____ Memorial Scholarship. He was more than deserving and extremely grateful and appreciative. Matt has overcome cancer three times so far, all while trying to keep up with his school work. In his application he wrote as one of his professional goals, "Live life as if every moment counts while making sure to take time for family and helping those important to me."

This scholarship is intended to acknowledge an individual who, despite overwhelming odds, has faced life’s challenges and obstacles with courage and determination. He definitely has! He is truly an amazing kid!

Matt with us and his parents.↑ Sorry about the glare on his face. The best part of all, is the fact that he actually knew Tyson. He said that he used to come to our house and ride our toys down our big hill with Tyson and some other boys hoping that they landed on a soft spot. Sounds like Tyson! We look foward to doing this every year!






Senior Pix (these aren't his official ones ~ just some his amateur mom took for his grad announcements.)

SEMINARY GRADUATION

Me with some of my Young Women that graduated from Seminary. Sheesh they were just little Beehives the other day!

THE BIG DAY HAS ARRIVED!!!












































Wow! Will someone tell me when THIS happened!! He was just two and I blinked and then....



























POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE




























The Valedictorian's marched in first and sat on the front row. It was nice having him receive his diploma at the beginning instead of at the end, where we always are because of our last name!





















(click to enlarge)
Bryce being announced as Valedictorian. I am soooooooo proud of that boy!!! I was so excited and had my video on just anticipating hearing his name to record for posterity forever and ever. Waiting, waiting... not hearing Bryce's name. WHAT? Then the announcer man sat down WITHOUT... I repeat WITHOUT announcing Bryce! As you can imagine, I was about freaking out! All the endless nights of staying up until 2 a.m. working on math with his Dad, and all those insane projects that required hours and hours of time and labor, and all those A- that we sweat over, not sure he could pull them to an A....was going through my little irritated head! Then suddenly all his buds around him started to point at him chanting "Bryce, Bryce, Bryce!" so Mr. Announcer Man would realize he forgot him! Thank goodness Mr. Announcer Man woke up and came back up to the pulpit and apologized for missing him and told everyone to give him an extra loud cheer, which they did. But, Mr. Announcer Man is now on my hit list! Grrr...

WHY you ask? Well, because Mr. Announcer Man caused me such stress that in the chaos I turned off my video camera and didn't have it back on for the big moment!!! I MISSED THE WHOLE THING! Well, other than the fact that I have on video ALL the OTHER Valedictorians....just not MINE!!! Why do these things ALWAYS happen to ME??? I could write a post on that alone!

The top left ↑ photo is Bryce with Matt the boy who received the Tyson Memorial Scholarship.



This year's graduation had a few, shall we say WANNA BE GRADUATES?






















During one of the speeches there was a lot of commotion going on in the back of where all the boys were sitting. A security guard and a teacher started wandering around looking for something. Soon after that, the teacher held up a RAT ~ YES A RAT! ~ to show the speaker and audience that it was now under control. The speaker didn't miss a beat, she just thanked the teacher and carried on with her speech. It's a good thing it wasn't crawling around on the girl's side!!! A little while later the commotion started again. Apparently another one was on the loose. As the graduates marched out, I saw THIS↓

I think this one is a mouse! But still! The poor little thing looks scared out of his tail!!! And all the poor guy wanted was one of those diplomas to make his mom proud too. This girl caught him because she said she didn't want the security to catch him and kill him. Apparently there were FOUR turned loose by a couple of the boy grads. Word is they also brought two snakes as well, but they died before they could let them loose! The snakes were probably bored to death. A slow and painful death to be sure! Either that or they just weren't into diplomas and all the pomp and circumstance. Not saying it was boring....how could being surrounded with PURPLE the whole night be boring?

Two mice or rats are still at large--er--small. The boys now have to pay for an exterminator because of the two fugitives.
























































My limo has arrived!! Dreamer...

Way to go Bryce!

WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU AND WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!! ♥♥♥

Sidenote:
When I did this post I meant to include THIS too! Bryce isn't the ONLY Valedictorian in the family by any means....noooooooooooo! His Grammy Suz was one as well! Yes, MY mother. She was South Junior High's Valedictorian and spoke at 9th grade graduation. This little tidbit of information was withheld from me until I was going through some of her old papers and found the evidence! She likes to keep it underwraps but I LOVE to tease her about it...which is why I am blogging about it now! lol MY mom....a valedictorian???? Oh that is just soooo funny to me!!! This is a high school photo of her....I don't have a junior high one.

Congrats to you to Mom! :D