Sports Release
February 22, 1999

ENMU FOOTBALL PLAYERS RECEIVE AWARD
FOR EFFORTS IN YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM
DALLAS, TX — A group of athletes and coaches from the Eastern New Mexico University football team received a special award on Friday (Feb. 19) for their efforts in a youth mentoring program. Head Coach Harold “Bud” Elliott, six assistant coaches and 20 players were honored as a group for their involvement with the HOSTS (Help One Student To Succeed) mentoring program.

They received the Betty Scharff Memorial Award as a Nonprofit Partner from the HOSTS Corporation. The Betty Scharff Memorial Award is HOSTS highest honor. It is given to an individual or a group that has gone the extra mile to help children succeed.

Eastern New Mexico’s football players and coaches have participated in the HOSTS program the past two years, helping students at Portales (N.M.) Junior High School develop reading and language arts skills. This year was particularly special for the Greyhounds. Even as the team was earning an 8-3 record on the field — Eastern’s best record since 1987 — many of the athletes and coaches were helping PJHS students.

The enthusiastic involvement of ENMU coaches and players in the HOSTS program resulted in them being nominated for the Scharff Award. Through their work with the HOSTS program, Eastern’s athletes and the junior high students they mentor have formed a strong bond that has each group looking forward to the next mentoring session.

The overall PJHS program has been in existence for four years. It includes approximately 75 junior high students and 80 adult mentors from ENMU and the Portales community. In achieving the national award, ENMU’s football players and coaches were recognized for committing significant time and dedication to the program.

Betty Scharff was a co-developer of the HOSTS program. She died of cancer in 1979, but has been remembered and honored for her dedication to education and love for children through the annual presentation of the Scharff Award.

This year’s award was presented at the 21st Annual HOSTS National Conference.

ENMU FOOTBALL COACHES AND PLAYERS
IN THE HOSTS MENTORING PROGRAM
(Helping One Student To Succeed)
Head Coach Harold “Bud” Elliott; Assistant coaches Mark Ribaudo, Rick Engelhardt, Nick Mitchell, Greg Curlee, Jeff Lynn, and Mike Howard. Players Waylon Mayfield, Webb Murphy, Tim Isaacs, Casey Strickland, Michael Connelly, Bobby Rodriguez, Bruce Hatch, Michael Walton, Floyd White, Dustin Fish, Carson Joachim, Jabe Riley, Josh Lynn, Adrian Adams, Tyson Burkett, Cale Sanders, Dean Jack, Patrick Ficke, Scott Schroeder, Jack Garceau.