Cy-Park HS Senior Honored as Finalist for National Scholar-Athlete Award
Cypress Park High School senior Harold Perkins was honored as a finalist for the 30th Annual Franklin D. Watkins Award, which recognizes the nation’s top African American male high school scholar-athlete through the National Alliance of African American Athletes. Perkins and five other finalists were honored during a reception on March 12 in Bethesda, Md.
“What an amazing group of young men who have demonstrated their leadership skills in the classroom, in athletics and in their community,” said Everette Pearsall, the alliance’s executive director. “The six members of this Watkins Award class are so impressive; it was very difficult for the selection committee to choose this year’s standard-bearer.”
Finalists were chosen based on their unweighted grade point average, personal statements, extracurricular activities, community service and letters of recommendation. In addition, each excelled on the football field.
Perkins is a four-year member of the Cypress Park honor roll, maintaining a 4.9 GPA. When he’s not in the classroom or on the field, Perkins mentors middle school students.
Perkins was named first-team All-District 16-6A on both offense and defense for the 2021 season, was named a Houston Touchdown Club Offensive Player of the Year finalist and was selected and participated in the Under Armour All-American Game on Jan 2. Perkins has accepted a scholarship to play football at Louisiana State University and hopes to be the first member of his family to earn a college degree.
Tyler Booker of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., was named the 2022 winner.
Source: Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District
