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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE @ProFootballHOF 05/07/15

U.S. ARMY AND PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME TO RECOGNIZE SAVANNAH HIGH SCHOOLER HALL OF FAMER DWIGHT STEPHENSON TO PRESENT AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE TO STUDENT-ATHLETE FINALIST

CANTON, OHIO – The U.S. Army and the Pro Football Hall of Fame will visit Benedictine Military School in Savannah, Ga. on Tuesday, May 12, to recognize Sanders Creech as a U.S. Army–Pro Football Hall of Fame Award for Excellence finalist. Pro Football Hall of Fame center and legend Dwight Stephenson will be on hand at Benedictine Military School to honor Creech before his fellow classmates and family during a formal ceremony.

The Award for Excellence program highlights the achievements of student-athletes across the country. Open to all sophomore, junior and senior-level high school athletes in the United States, finalists were determined based on athletic, academic and civic achievements. Creech is among an elite group of 20 finalists who have demonstrated excellence in all they do and that they understand the importance of adaptability and versatility when working as a team.

Award for Excellence Event Details:

What: Sanders Creech to receive finalist recognition and invitation to attend the 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend

Where: Benedictine Military School 6502 Seawright Drive Savannah, GA 31406

When: May 12, 2015

Event Start Time: 10:00 am EDT

Media Set-Up Time: 30 minutes prior to event

COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • COURAGE • RESPECT • EXCELLENCE

Hall of Famer in Attendance: Dwight Stephenson Stephenson was drafted out of the by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 1980 NFL Draft. He quickly established himself as the premier center in the NFL. Stephenson was noted as a tactical blocker with explosive speed and quickness off the line. His play earned him All-Pro accolades five straight seasons from 1983 to 1987 before a severe knee injury ended his career in ’87. He was also named to five consecutive Pro Bowls and to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1980s. Stephenson was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998. Today, he is Chief Executive Officer of D. Stephenson Construction, Inc. with locations in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Delray Beach, Fla.

Photo/Interview Op: Sanders Creech Dwight Stephenson Nominating teacher Local soldiers presenting Creech with plaque

Websites: GoArmy.com/AAB ProFootballHOF.com/Army

Social Media Handles: Twitter @GoArmy @ProFootballHOF @thecolonel_52 @dstephenson57

Facebook facebook.com/goarmy facebook.com/ProFootballHOF

Instagram instagram.com/goarmy/ instagram.com/profootballhof/

Relevant Hashtags: #Award4Excellence, #ArmyTeam, #PFHOF15

For More Information: Pete Fierle, Vice President of Communications Pro Football Hall of Fame [email protected]; 330-588-3622

Grace Fair, Assistant Account Executive Weber Shandwick [email protected]; 952-346-6006

Each U.S. Army-Pro Football Hall of Fame Award for Excellence finalist will be honored in Canton during the 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend this summer. The finalists will be hosted at a special luncheon on Saturday, Aug. 8. The 2015 Award for Excellence winner will be announced at the event. All 20 finalists will attend the 2015 Enshrinement Ceremony of the Class of 2015 – , Tim Brown, , , , , , and – which is nationally televised on ESPN and the NFL Network. The finalists and winner will receive special

COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • COURAGE • RESPECT • EXCELLENCE

recognition during the telecast. The weekend celebration will be capped off when the Award for Excellence finalists and their guests attend the NFL’s preseason opener between the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers in Canton on Sunday, Aug. 9.

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COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • COURAGE • RESPECT • EXCELLENCE