May 12, 2010

University of South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley told a large audience at the Redemption World Outreach Center on Tuesday night that basketball helped shape her life.

The featured speaker at the Potential Youth Foundation/Sid Wilson Foundation Coaches 4 Character "Young Ladies Night" spoke of her humble beginnings, growing up in the projects of North Philadelphia and how basketball helped shape her life.

"To ask why the game has been so goof to me almost seems ungrateful, so I don't ask out loud," said Staley, a three time Olympic Gold Medal winner. 

"But I wonder about it all the time. When I think about it, I am an unlikely candidate. 

"I don't have the build of a LeBron James or the grace of a Candace Parker. I don't have the flash of a Kobe Bryant or the charisma of Mya Moore, and I have had more injuries than I can count. But basketball has made all my dreams come true."

The message seemed tailor made for Hughes Academy for Science and Technology sixth-grader Kianya Philson, the winner of the Greenville News Coaches 4 Character Award.

Philson, who was voted to receive the award by her  schoolmates, owns a A+ average and has set a goal of attending Harvard University and eventually becoming a neurosurgeon. 

"I heard about the award (a week ago) during the morning announcements," said Philson. "I was surprised. I knew people voted for me, but I didn't think it was that many. I figured either an eighth-grader or a seventh-grader would win, not me." 

A winner of a Good Citizenship Award as a fourth-grader at Plain Elementary School, Philson has previously earned a $1,000 scholarship for excellent academic achievement and quality character. 

She has always been an overachiever, according to her mother, Miranda Freeman. 

"I was so excited for her," said Freeman. "I knew she has been working hard. It pays off to work hard." 

By; Willie T. Smith III -- Greenville News 

March 5, 2010

Watching Greenville High School School senior James D. Smith earn the Coaches 4 Character Award at the Carolina First Center. Friday night got former University of Tennessee football coach Phil Fulmer thinking about a former Vols student. 

Although Fulmer coached one of the greatest quarterbacks in National League Football history. Peyton Manning was the player who succeeded him at the position who led the Vols to the only national championship under his tenure. 

"Peyton came from a little bit different world." said Fulmer. "Peyton's father had been successful, made some money, played pro football. He knew what it was about and what he had to do to make it big.

"But I want to tell you about another young man who would probably fit better in this room -- Tee Martin. He did not grow up with any wealth. He grew up with a single mother, in the hood in Mobile, Ala. with all the distractions in the world around him. But he made it for himself because he had the character." 

Fulmer went on to describe the Martin as a great leader who was the biggest reason the Vols claimed the national title. 

Smith, a lineman on the Red Raider varsity and a member of the track team was also described by Greenville football coach Phil Magdic as a leader on and off the field. He also is a member  of the student council. 

Although he has yet to make a college decision, he has a vision for his future. 

"I want to be a history major," said Smith. "After graduation I would like to come back and teach, then someday become the principal at Greenville High School." 

Smith's fellow students at Greenville High voted for him to receive the award. 

By: Willie T. Smith -- Greenville News 

December 18, 2009

Zykiesis Cannon said meeting Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and hearing his message at Thursday night's Coaches 4 Character gathering was a thrill. 

Swinney drew from personal experience in challenging Cannon, a student at Berea Middle School, and several hundred other young people at Carolina First Center in Greenville to reach for the stars. 

Other than a few who fidgeted, Swinney held the majority in the audience rapt as he smoke in detail of growing up in a dysfunctional household, of attending the University of Alabama "on a hope and a dream: and of eventually becoming head coach at Clemson University. 

"I'm here to encourage you, I want to give you some hope," he said. "I want to give you some confidence." 

Cannon was honored for his service to the school, church, and community. The award is sponsored by the Potential Youth Foundation and Sid Wilson Foundation. 

A member of Berea Middle basketball team for two seasons he played on the Berea High "C" team this year and ran with the Greenville Jets Track Club. He participated in recreation league football beginning at 5, and he has attended the Clemson football camp for two years.

Son of Zaneta Robinson, Cannon attends Bruton Temple Baptist Church, where he helped organize the summer program and Vacation Bible School. 

Swinney presented the award to Cannon and encouraged him to focus on academics. 

"It was real good," Cannon said of Swinney's speech. "I really liked the part about having good friends and trying to get an education."

By: Ed McGranahan -- Greenville News 

October 14, 2009

Not too many people could get away with telling a room full of young students to pursue three D's. However, Bobby Cremins did so confidently on Tuesday night at the Coaches 4 Character ceremony presented by the Potential Youth Foundation and the Sid Wilson Foundation.

​Cremins, the men's basketball coach at the College of Charleston opened the third year of the Coaches 4 Character series, delivering an alternative lesson, although it had little to do with report cards. 

"Determination, discipline, and dedication," Cremins repeated to the students who packed the conference room at the Carolina First Center. He encouraged his listeners to internalize those three D's, whether seeking success in athletics, academics, and simply in the pursuit of their dreams.

"If you have a dream, go for it," he said. "If you're fearful, that's part of the process. Some doors will close, but when that happens, another opens.

"I wanted to share this message, because this is what we tell our players. These things are easy to say, but they are harder to live."

Travelers Rest High School principal Lou Laverly asserted that he knows someone who lives Cremins's message, as he introduced the recepient of The Greenville News Character Award to Hope Ellen Philpot. 

Philpot, a senior at Travelers Rest, participates on the student council, Beta Club, and varsity soccer and tennis team. 

​She was also voted Travelers Rest homecoming queen and was tabbed for Tuesday night's honor by her classmates.

"It's a great honor," said Philpot, who plans to begin her pursuit of a nursing degree next year.

"It was amazing to be chosen out of the whole school. These are my peers who I go to school with everyday who have decided to honor me for my character." 

"I guess people notice you when you're different. Sometimes you have to  be different if you want to do the right thing. I just want to continue to do what's right, so I feel honored to be recognized for that. 

By: Mandrallius Robinson -- Greenville News

May 20, 2009

Over her 30-year career, University of North Carolina women's basketball coach Sylvia Hatchell has won three national championships over 700 games. 

She would have won twice as many by now with a team full of players like Christian Taylor. 

For her consistent display of compassion even in competition. Taylor, an eighth grader at League Academy, was presented with The Greenville News Character Award at the Coaches 4 Character program held on Tuesday night at the Carolina First Center.

Taylor was selected for the award by her classmates and the League faculty. After being showered with praise from League Academy administrative assistant Jay Grady, Taylor was presented with the award by Hatchell. 

"It's an honor because she's such a great coach," said Taylor. "I'm really glad that I got the award. This makes me want to behave even better, because I know how important it is."

"This is really an honor," said Tony Taylor, Christian's father, "because this shows that all the hard work pays off. That's something that we have really stressed in our house." 

After the presentation, Hatchell stressed, to over 100 young women and men in attendance, the importance of attitude, discipline, hard work, and priorities. 

She encourages the young men and women to pursue athletic and academic excellence, which she has stressed at North Carolina. Hatchell proclaimed that over her 23 years at UNC; every player that she brought to the school to play basketball received a degree from the University of North Carolina. "We make that a priority," she said. "When your priorities are in line, you can find success. You have to find what you are passionate about. If you don't love what you do, then change. You have to do what makes you sing."

Hatchell said inspiring young women is her passion and led her to coaching.

"I have to pinch myself," she said. "I ask myself, 'I'm really at the University of North Carolina. I'm really coaching women's basketball, we're winning and they're paying me to do it.'

"You have to find your passion, and that's the reason I'm here, because I have a passion for young people."

By; Mandrallius Robinson -- Greenville News 

January 22, 2009

Skip Holtz, East Carolina University's football coach, delivered a high-energy address about choices Thursday night as the seventh speaker in the Coaches4Character series. 

Speaking to an audience at the Carolina First Center equally populated by youngsters and adults, the son of former University of South Carolina coach Lou Holtz touched on a number of personal experiences.

He drew on his years as a member of the Gamecocks' staff with his father, as head coach at ECU and the University of Connecticut, and as a student at Notre Dame. 

"I believe the greatest gift God gave us is the power to choose," said Holtz, whose appearance was sponsored by the Potential Youth Foundation and the Sid Wilson Foundation.

During the evening he met Ethan Halvorsen, a senior at Wade Hampton High School, who seemed to embody Holtz's message. 

Halvorsen, a two-sport athlete and honor student, was recognized by Wade Hampton football coach Kent Haltiwanger for the inspiration and leadership he imparts to his teammates. 

"He leads with his character," Haltiwanger said. "And his character is impeccable."

The son of Erik and Emily Halvorsen, Ethan was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Halvorsens came to Greenville when Ethan was 2.

​A receiver and a defensive back on the football team, he also wrestles and is the wrestling team captain. 

Fifth academically in his class, Halvorsen is a member of the National Honor Society.

Halvorsen said he was accepted at Clemson University and intends to major in engineering. 

His football teammates voted him the recipient of a Christian leadership award that Haltiwanger said is presented to the player that most epitomizes "good morals, good values."

Halvorsen wrote in a bio that his goal was to enjoy his experiences, "and not regret anything because I didn't try hard enough or didn't try at all."

By; Ed McGranahan -- Greenville News

December 12, 2008

Vanderbilt University football coach Bobby Johnson shook his head and smiled prior to beginning his speech at the Potential Youth Foundation Coaches 4 Character Series at the Carolina First Center Thursday night. 

After listening to Sevier Middle School principal Karen Kapp extol the virtues of eighth-grade student Taylor Lamb he was amazed.

"Congratulations Taylor, that is a fantastic award," said Johnson. "For a principal to be able to get up and say all those kind of things -- my principal didn't know my name." Lamb was selected for the Greenville News Coaches 4 Character award after being nominated, then selected, by the Sevier staff. 

"One of the most difficult things teachers ever have to do is choose one stellar individual," said Kapp. "But I will tell you when it cam down to our faculty, in a closed ballot. Taylor Lamb stood head and shoulders above all candidates who had been recommended for this award."

​Lamb, and eighth grader, is an honor roll student who is taking advanced classes. He is an active member in his youth group at Brushy Creek Baptist Church, who also plays basketball and baseball at Sevier. He was a member of the Wade Hampton High School C-team football squad. 

​Lamb, the son of Furman University football coach Bobby Lamb and his wife Allyson Lamb, admitted to being shocked when discovering he would  be the recipient of the award. 

"I went to the Principal's office and saw my mother in there," said Taylor. 

"I thought I must be in trouble. I had no idea I was even up for the award. It was really a surprise."

In addition to his academic work and leadership both at Sevier and in the community, Kapp also praised Lamb's level headedness. 

​"Even though Taylor Lamb has had opportunities ties that many young men do not, been places and done things that many young people may never do, he has never lost sight of who he is, what he is and who he wants to be," said Kapp. 

The elder Lamb served as an assistant coach with and under Johnson at Furman, then replaced him as head coach when Johnson went to Vanderbilt. 

By: Willie T. Smith III -- Greenville News

October 1, 2008

Credit Rafael "Junior" Alcantar for recognizing that he had an innate gift for sharing, caring, and inspiring. Credit his fellow students at Carolina High School and Academy for recognizing that. 

Alcantar, a 17-year-old senior, was named recipient of The Greenville News Coaches4Character Award Tuesday night in the latest installment of the Potential Youth Foundation's Coaches 4 Character Series at the Carolina First Center. 

"I've always been told that I can do something special with my life, and to be recognized with something like this makes me feel like it's going to happen," Alcantar said.

Alcantar, who is student body president and also attends the Fine Arts Center for Creative Writing, is active in a variety of organizations, including Young Life, a nondenominational youth group run by Furman University students, and recently spent a month volunteering at a youth camp in North Carolina. 

Alcantar, who was joined at the ceremony by his cousin and "best friend" Lisette Alcantar and his aunt, Rosa, received his plaque from Clemson University men's basketball coach Oliver Purnell, who spoke to hundreds of youth on hand about character and the "war between the right and wrong side."

"The wrong side has tremendous weaponry, and the greatest weapon it has is negative peer pressure,: Purnell said. 

"But the right side has a weapon as well -- positive peer pressure. What we really need is leadership, so I want to challenge you to blaze a path for your peers to follow." 

By: Scott Keepfer -- Greenville News

April 23, 2008

Greenville Middle student Adam Puznik is presented the Coaches 4 Character award by school principal Dr. Robert Palmer, left, and Maryland head coach Gary Williams during the Potential Youth Foundation's program to encourage and support character among youth Tuesday at the Carolina First Center in Greenville. 

By: Bart Boatwright -- Greenville News