Thursday, April 10, 2008

Former Cowboy Emmitt Smith gets own scholarship from Phi Beta Sigma fraternity

By Pietro Elina of North Dallas Gazette

Emmitt Smith and Paul L. Griffin, Jr- 32nd International President - Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

The national chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. hosted the first annual Emmitt Smith Scholarship Gala recently at the Renaissance Hotel in Dallas.

Smith is a lifetime member of the Phi Beta Sigma, a historically black fraternity founded in 1914. The fraternity strives toward its founders’ ideals of brotherhood, scholarship, and service to the community. From its inception, the original Founders, A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I. Brown, conceived Phi Beta Sigma as a mechanism to deliver services to the general community. Rather than gaining skills to be utilized exclusively for themselves or their families, the founders held a deep conviction they should return their newly acquired skills to the communities from which they had come. This is a principle Smith has exhibited throughout his life. This deep conviction is mirrored in the Fraternity's motto, "Culture For Service and Service For Humanity".

The first annual gala kicked off the endowed scholarship in Smith’s name, designed to benefit college athletes, who are members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. The first ever Emmitt Smith Scholarship will be awarded at the 2009 International Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Emmitt Smith signing autographs for guests and supporters.

Several of Smith’s former Dallas Cowboy teammates, along with elected officials, including Texas State Senator Royce West, were on hand to share their support. The fundraising goal for the Scholarship Award’s value is $100,000. “Our fraternity is excited about endowing this scholarship in Emmitt Smith’s name. His life has been a wonderful example to all people; especially to the young men this scholarship hopes to help.” said Paul Griffin, International President of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.

Although Smith was the only running back to ever have won a Super Bowl championship, the NFL Most Valuable Player award, the NFL rushing crown, and the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award all in the same season, his talents go far beyond the gridiron; Smith is a servant to society at heart. Beside his athletic abilities, Smith is equally endowed with a passion for discipline and excellence he seeks to share with all aspiring student athletes. As he promised, Smith returned to the University of Florida in 1996 to earn a degree in Parks and Recreation.

As the founder of the Open Doors Foundation, Smith has successfully worked to rekindle youth’s ambition through access, exposure and education. The Open Doors Foundation provides young people in our community with the tools, activities, and skills needed to be successful in this world. As the United States Democratic Presidential hopeful, Senator Barack Obama recently suggested, “Emmit has a phenomenal record in college and professional football, he has a phenomenal record in ballroom dancing, and he has a phenomenal record in public service – what can’t he do?” Yes indeed, Emmitt Smith’s dynamic culmination of energy, talent, and commitment, exemplify exactly what the Emmitt Smith Scholarship Award is all about.

Pegasus News content partner - North Dallas Gazette

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