U.S. Army and Pro Football Hall of Fame honor Ida Baker student
Today, the U.S. Army and the Pro Football Hall of Fame visited Ida S. Baker High School in Cape Coral to recognize Thalia Fernandez as a U.S. ArmyPro Football Hall of Fame Award for Excellence finalist. Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker and former Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers and Carolina Panthers legend Kevin Greene presented the award to Fernandez before her classmates and family during a formal ceremony.
The Award for Excellence program highlights the achievements of student-athletes across the country. Open to all sophomore, junior and senior-level high school athletes in the country, finalists were determined based on athletic, academic and civic achievements. Fernandez is among an elite group of 20 finalists who have demonstrated excellence in all they do and an understanding of the importance of adaptability and versatility when working as a team.
Greene discussed how teamwork, adaptability and a commitment to hard work skills instilled in every U.S. Army soldier helped him achieve excellence on and off the field. “The Law of Compensation states that whatever you put in, you get out. No more, no less. If you go all in and dedicate yourself, you’ll get more out of it. You will achieve success if you put in the effort,” Greene said.
Each U.S. Army-Pro Football Hall of Fame Award for Excellence finalist will be honored in Canton, Ohio, during the 2016 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week this summer. The finalists will be hosted at a special luncheon on Saturday, Aug. 6, at which the winner will be announced. All 20 finalists will attend the 2016 Enshrinement Ceremony of the Class of 2016 Edward DeBartolo, Jr. Tony Dungy, Brett Favre, Kevin Greene, Marvin Harrison, Orlando Pace, Ken Stabler and Dick Stanfel which is nationally televised on ESPN and the NFL Network.
The finalists and winner will receive special recognition during the telecast.
The weekend celebration will be capped off when the Award for Excellence finalists and their guests attend the NFL’s preseason opener between the Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers in Canton on Sunday, Aug. 7.
For more information, visit GoArmy.com/events/all-american-bowl/hall-of-fame.html or ProFootballHOF.com/Army.