Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values & Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE @ProFootballHOF 04/13/17 #Award4Excellence U.S. ARMY AND PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME HONOR WASHINGTON STUDENT-ATHLETE HALL OF FAMER PRESENTED AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE TO FINALIST

CANTON, OHIO – The U.S. Army and the Pro Football Hall of Fame were at Mount Spokane High School in Mead, Wash. Wednesday afternoon to recognize Makenzie Funk as a U.S. Army-Pro Football Hall of Fame Award for Excellence finalist. Hall of Fame cornerback Mike Haynes presented the prestigious award to Funk before her fellow classmates and family members during a formal ceremony.

PHOTO ATTACHED: Hall of Famer Mike Haynes poses with Award for Excellence Finalist Makenzie Funk on Wednesday, April 12, 2017. © Pro Football Hall of Fame

Haynes told the students in attendance how constant self-improvement helped him become a better player and person, encouraging them to embrace change and adapt to challenges on and off the field.

“Commit to developing your character and building good habits that are consistent with your pathway to excellence,” Haynes said. “Find out how to use your nonverbal and verbal communication skills effectively with all types of people.”

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 selected based on athletic, academic and civic achievements. Funk is among an elite group of 25 finalists who have demonstrated excellence in all they do and an understanding of the importance of adaptability and versatility when working as a team.

COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • COURAGE • RESPECT • EXCELLENCE “Excellence to me is something that you must strive for throughout your life,” Funk shared. “In my opinion, you may be excellent now but you can always work to be more so.”

Each U.S. Army-Pro Football Hall of Fame Award for Excellence finalist will be honored in Canton during the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls this summer. The celebration will start when the Award for Excellence finalists and their guests attend the Hall of Fame Game between the Dallas Cowboys and on Thursday, Aug. 3. The finalists are then hosted at a special luncheon on Saturday, Aug. 5 during which the winner will be announced. All 25 finalists will attend the Enshrinement Ceremony for the Class of 2017 – , , Kenny Easley, , Jason Taylor, LaDainian Tomlinson and – that evening.

For more information, visit GoArmy.com/events/all-american-bowl/hall-of-fame.html or ProFootballHOF.com/Army.

Contacts: Rachel Gutting, Communications Coordinator Pro Football Hall of Fame [email protected]; 330-588-3671

Tara Calbat, Account Group Manager Weber Shandwick [email protected]; 619-250-2625

#Award4Excellence

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ABOUT THE ARMY MARKETING AND RESEARCH GROUP (AMRG) The Army Marketing and Research Group (AMRG) is the U.S. Army's national marketing, marketing research and analysis and accessions analysis organization. The AMRG develops innovative and effective ways to: connect with the American public and make the Army more accessible and understood; increase awareness of both the benefits and value of Army service; and motivate the most qualified candidates to choose the Army as their service of choice.

ABOUT THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME Located in Canton, Ohio, the birthplace of the , the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit institution with the Mission to Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values, & Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE.

Hundreds of thousands of fans from across the globe travel to Canton annually to experience “The Most Inspiring Place on Earth!” that chronicles America’s most popular sport.

Construction on Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village, a $600 million development project that includes nine main components, is under way in Canton to transform the Hall of Fame’s campus.

For more information about the Pro Football Hall of Fame, please visit ProFootballHOF.com; @ProFootballHOF on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube. COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • COURAGE • RESPECT • EXCELLENCE