LDS teen receives Army-Navy All American Award

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 11:27:00 -0600

source: moregoodfoundation.org

Amid a stirring ovation and applause, a moved crowd of students, faculty, Army-Navy personnel, military cadre, family and friends at an American Fork High School’s singular assembly this morning, linebacker Ryker Matthews was selected as the Army-Navy All American player of the year—one of high school football’s highest honors. Thanking God, his family, his mother, his teammates, and his fans, Ryker graciously accepted the award, granted officially by the Chief of Staff of the Arm-Navy games.

Representing the Chief of Staff, Army-Navy officials mentioned that these athletes chosen for this award have demonstrated a commitment to excellence on the field and in their daily lives—“representing the same strengths and values demonstrated by Army soldiers including loyalty, respect, honor, and integrity.” Alluding to those and like Mormon values, Rebecca Rothey, Ryker’s mother, remarked just after the award ceremony, that in fact her very joy stemmed largely from the “choices Ryker has made that have led him to this point.”

It Was Just a High School Assembly

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:11:00 -0600

by John L. Lund - FUN FOR LESS TOURS
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: The following article is one of many inspirational stories shared by Fun for Less educators on many of our trips. The event was similar to what we could find at a typical high school in Southern California on a Friday for an assembly. There was a big game that night between rival schools and a dance was to take place afterwards. The bleachers in the gym were filled with nearly three thousand students. Excited to be out of their classes and with their friends, there were three thousand voices all abuzz about everything from the upcoming game to who broke up with who and what would be the appropriate attire for the evening. My daughter was a senior and one of the three thousand voices. She had brought home an announcement that the assembly speaker would be addressing the topic of "Overcoming Adversity." Uninvited and yet welcomed, I asked for and received permission from the principal to attend the lecture.

The noise from the student body was deafening and a determined vice-principal finally brought the crowd under control and yet there was a persistent din in the background. I quickly moved as close to the speaker's podium as possible in order to hear. What I expected was a polished presenter who would be dressed for success, someone filled with wit and wisdom, someone who had overcome drugs or alcohol and now was a role model at the top of his or her field of employment. What followed was a life changing moment.

Standing in front of the entire student body was a woman in her mid-forties. She was blind and flanked by her two daughters.

Click here to read the rest of the story.

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John L. Lund is an eductor traveling the world with Fun for Less Tours.

Mormon Life - High School tag

LDS teen receives Army-Navy All American Award

It Was Just a High School Assembly