Miami Dolphins And Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE) Announce Youth Programs Week 7 Award Winners
Download PDF version
October 18, 2017
Miami Dolphins And Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE) Announce Youth Programs Week 7 Award Winners
Miami, FL – The Miami Dolphins and the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE) today announced their Week 7 award winners in a program designed to recognize the members of the community who have demonstrated their commitment to being leaders on and off the field.
Each week, the Dolphins identify a high school coach of the week, high school player of the week, youth player of the week and team mom of the week. Award recipients are presented with a plaque on the field during a Dolphins home game at Hard Rock Stadium and receive acknowledgement of their accomplishment in the game program and through the Dolphins’ and RISE’s social media platforms. They also receive tickets to a Miami Dolphins home game, access to the Dolphins/RISE pregame tailgate and a Dolphins/RISE T-shirt. For each home game, the Dolphins identify a team of the week and they will be on the field during the national anthem. The program concludes at the Dolphins-Patriots game on December 11 where the Dolphins will honor yearly award winners in all categories with the exception of the team of the year.
Week 7 Winners:
- High School Coach of the Week: Max Edwards from Miami Northwestern Senior High School. The Bulls improved to 5-1 on the season with a 16-7 win over Carol City. This was Coach Edwards’ first game coaching since being hospitalized two weeks ago in Bradenton prior to the Bulls matchup against IMG Academy.
- High School Player of the Week: TJ Butler from Plantation High School. Butler had five tackles and three interceptions as the Colonels upset previously unbeaten Western 34-26. This victory put the 6-1 Colonels in prime position to get the first wildcard spot or possibly engage in a three-team tiebreaker for the district title.
- Youth Player of the Week: Octavius Durden from the Opa Locka Hurricanes 14U of the National Youth Football League. Durden had three catches for 70 yards and one touchdown and added six tackles in a 12-0 shutout of the North Miami Tigers.
- Team Mom of the Week: Sandra Cerezo from the Dick Conley Steelers 8U of the Miami Xtreme Football League. Cerezo volunteers her love, sweat and tears to help the 8U division and every age group in the Dick Conley Steeler family. She goes above and beyond making sure her team’s books are in order. She assistances with new player sign ups and gives all the information to parents to help them understand what the players’ needs are for the year. Cerezo makes sure the team is run smoothly on a daily basis. She plans game day snacks, drinks and postgame meals for the players and coaches. Cerezo and another team mom came up with a great idea for the players to use cool towels during games to help keep our players cool and hydrated. She volunteers in the concession stand on a daily basis to raise money and also organizes fundraisers for players who would not otherwise have the proper gear to play.
- Team of the Week: Cooper City High School. The Cowboys are part of the RISE Leadership Program, designed to empower sports administrators, coaches and athletes to be leaders in discussing and addressing matters of racism, prejudice, diversity and inclusivity within their teams, schools and communities. The multifaceted program increases awareness, builds skills and creates safe spaces to have difficult conversations. Participants learn about the history of race and sports, the power of sports to drive change and how they can become leaders in improving race relations.
About Miami Dolphins Youth Programs
The Miami Dolphins Youth Programs’ mission is to transform the lives of youth football players by instilling character building and reinforcing safety standards that help to increase football participation and grow a new generation of Dolphins fans.
About the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE)
Founded in 2015 by Stephen M. Ross, the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to harnessing the unifying power of sports to improve race relations and drive social progress. Supported by an unprecedented alliance of sports leagues, organizations, athletes, educators, media networks and sports professionals, RISE uses sports as a vehicle to promote understanding, respect and equality. Through public awareness campaigns and educational programming, RISE aims to spark enduring action. To learn more, visit RISEtoWIN.org.
