Duhon honors foundation’s scholarship winners

Chris Duhon’s Stand Tall Foundation honored five 2010 graduates of the St. Tammany Parish Pubic School system for winning a $5,000 scholarship to a four-year college of their choice during a dinner at Bayou Oaks Plantation in Slidell.

Fontainebleau’s Adam Beasley, Slidell’s Michael Braud, Covington’s Brittany Bruhl, Northshore’s Brad Hewitt and Salmen’s Mary Zar were the foundation’s first recipients of the award.

Duhon, a 2000 Salmen graduate and Orlando Magic point guard, said he was thankful for them coming out there Saturday.

“You can tell that they have a great supporting cast, a lot of people to support them and their accomplishments,” Duhon said. “We’re very excited and happy for the winners and we know they’re going to set a great example for others.”

To be eligible, students had to have completed at least their junior and senior year in the St. Tammany Parish School and be going to a four-year college. Other criteria included active community service hours, which could be church, school or the community and they looked at academics along with leadership qualities.

A committee was brought in to select the winners.

Beasley, who will attend Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., said he’s going to major in Biology and minor in Spanish. Beasley played soccer for Fontainebleau and was an all-district honorable mention his senior season.

At FHS, he was also the president of the Quiz-Bowl Team and secretary of student council. He was a member of the Fellowship for Christian Athletes, Beta Club and National Honor Society.

He said he was excited about getting the award.

“First of all, out of all the people in St. Tammany Parish, only five were picked and I’m one of them, so it’s a great honor,” Beasley said. “I think it’s really cool that this is coming from a famous sports star that’s from the area because I’m really into sports.”

SHS’ Braud, who is going to Louisiana State University in the fall, said he plans on majoring in architecture.

In high school, Braud had leadership roles as a president of the Thespian Society, treasurer with the National Honor Society and prayer leader with FCA. He was also on the swim team for three years.

Braud said it’s a big honor to get the award.

“I was applying for scholarships all senior year and I didn’t think I was going to get any of them,” Braud said. “I plan on going to LSU for five years, so I know I needed financial support. Gosh, to get a scholarship and this scholarship most importantly, it’s amazing. I would never have thought applying for this scholarship I would’ve got it. It’s just a blessing and an honor to be the first recipient of a big and new scholarship out there.”

He also said he felt like a celebrity after being recognized by the school board Thursday night and then Saturday’s event.

CHS’ Bruhl, who is heading to LSU, will be majoring in Kinesiology. At Covington, Bruhl was a National Honor Society member, dance team, FCA, leadership class, student council and she was president of her senior class.

Bruhl talked about being picked for the award.

“I was so excited. It’s a very huge honor to be selected. Anything can help with college,” Bruhl said.

NHS’ Hewitt, who will go to Texas A&M University, plans on majoring in Mechanical Engineering. At Northshore, Hewitt was a member of the school’s basketball team. He was also a member of National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Robotics, Beta Club and Key Club.

Hewitt said it’s a great experience and a blessing. He also talked about being selected.

“It’s great recognition, it’s a great foundation, the Stand Tall Foundation. It’s just a very happy moment for me,” Hewitt said.

Salmen’s Zar, who is heading to Southeastern Louisiana University, plans on majoring in criminal justice and minor in physiology. She is the first person in her family to graduate from high school and attend college.

Zar worked at Steakout for most of her years after school. She was Vice President of Interact her senior year and treasurer her junior year. Interact is a community service club that was started at Salmen her junior year. Zar is one of the founding members.

Zar said it was she was excited about getting it, especially since she graduated from the same high school as Duhon.

“I’m the first in my family to graduate high school and attend college,” Zar said. “It’s really a great experience and I’m really thankful for this scholarship.”

Zar said she looks up to Duhon because he’s a great mentor.

At the dinner, the winners were announced and sat up front. Duhon spoke first about the foundation and said they want to give the next generation opportunities to succeed and make this a better place. He then congratulated the winners and spoke to them.

“You guys set the example for your generation with your work ethic, how you’re dedicated to your books and showing how important education is,” Duhon said. “You guys are the leaders and we’re very thankful and glad to have you guys and we know you’re going to do special things.”

Duhon then thanked the people responsible for putting the event together before turning the microphone over to his mom Vivian Harper.

She talked about the foundation, congratulated the recipients, read students’ the answers to one of the questions on the scholarship application.

Then someone spoke on behalf of each student before the recipients came up and talked.

Saturday night’s dinner was the foundation’s second event that day and third in two days. Before, the second annual Chris Duhon Charity Golf Tournament occurred at Oak Harbor Golf Club.

The team of state Sen. A.G. Crowe, Steve Haberstoh, David Lindsey and Andrew Kestner defended their title, posting a 51 in the four-man scramble. The winners received watches from TW Steel.

The second place group included Karen and Robert Jones along with JJ Williamson and Marvin Smith, who received a Nike Golf Bag.

Haberstoh captured the closest-to-the-pin contest and took home a $200 cash prize from Lakeshore Chrysler.

Jesse Martin topped the putting contest and got a Nike putter, while Curtis Morton was the longest drive contest winner and got a Nike driver.

On Friday, the foundation had the Dynamic Duo of Comedy with Williamson and Debra Terry at the House of Blues in New Orleans.

This week, Duhon is holding his sixth annual basketball camp at Fritchie Park’s gym in Slidell.