How a scholar-athlete banquet was revived after a pandemic

In the Good News Day category, nothing deserves more attention and praise than the 2023 comeback story.

The COVID-19 pandemic nearly wiped out the San Fernando Valley chapter of the National Football Foundation and the College Hall of Fame, the group that annually honors each high school’s top student athlete with a banquet and recognition of their achievement.

The last one took place in 2019.

“It killed us,” said chairman Jim Lufthal.

The group’s membership has fallen to six people, with no banquets in three years.

Enter Simi Valley High football coach Jim Benkert, who became the organization’s president. The 2022 student-athletes will host their Monday night banquet at the Odyssey Restaurant in Granada Hills, with former San Fernando High and USC star Anthony Davis as the speakers.

Each banquet offers insights for future Church leaders. These players are the best of the best in academics, athletics and leadership.

Take the case of Taft linebacker Caden Cowles, who has a 4.5 GPA and a black belt in taekwondo.

“He was the cliche coach on the field,” said former Taft coach Jeff Kearin. “One day I will work for this boy.”

Cowles, an aspiring aerospace engineer with academic credentials from USC, Florida Tech and Purdue, said football taught him valuable lessons.

“I was captain for two years,” he said. “It helped me build a lot of confidence. It taught me to never give up, always try harder, always try to improve, make myself better, make the experiment better. You build relationships. It’s like starting a family.”

Cowles was an old scout who had to give up becoming an eagle scout after the disruptions of COVID-19, but he and the 41 other players to be honored can take solace in reliving their football days, wins and losses, and focusing on their academic goals.

The honorees include seniors who have volunteered as election observers and youth coaches for Special Olympics, who have worked at McDonald’s, and as referees.

Josh Dixon of Studio City Harvard-Westlake plays bass in a band, works at a car wash, has a 3.9 GPA and is on his way to UCLA to play linebacker. Granada Hills Kennedy’s Gabriel Argott was a standout running back while working part-time in construction. Burbank Burroughs Representative Marcus Manahan is the Senior Class President.

Few banquets produce more future doctors, lawyers, police officers, soldiers, businessmen, teachers, and community leaders.

It is inspiring that Benkert has used his organizational skills to revitalize the San Fernando Valley Chapter and recruit more members to become part of a recurring group in other parts of Southern California to support the great academic athletes who have attended so many schools there, honour. . The Los Angeles Chapter will hold its banquet at SoFi Stadium later this month.

As someone who has attended the banquets of scholars and athletes for decades, I’ve always wondered which honoree could one day rescue me as a medic or athletic trainer, greet me in the street and offer assistance, and eventually fly an F-16. fighter jet could fly. Protect our country or discover a cure for cancer.

They are real difference makers.

So please bring me closer to Cowles, the black belt and inventor in the making.

When asked if classmates knew about his taekwondo skills, Cowles said, “I don’t promote that. I present myself in a fun way where no one wants to attack me.”