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Whittell’s Scott Harrison awarded eighth annual Upshaw Scholarship

Anthony Gentile
agentile@tahoedailytribune.com
Whittell High student Scott Harrison (second from left) with his family after being awarded the Gene Upshaw Scholarship on Sunday, July 24, at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course.
Anthony Gentile / Tahoe Daily Tribune |

STATELINE — Scott Harrison boasts an impressive list of accomplishments inside and outside of the classroom. The latest feat for the Whittell High student was being awarded the eighth annual Gene Upshaw Scholarship, given in memory of the Pro Football Hall of Famer to a student emblematic of his legacy.

“I just want to say thank you to everyone in Tahoe as a whole,” Harrison said. “I moved here about eight years ago from London. I think moving to a place like this, where there’s so many people who want to support local kids, it’s a lot easier to be noticed.”

Harrison was presented the award during a ceremony Sunday morning, July 24, at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course during the final round of the 27th American Century Championship. Heading into his senior year, he has a 4.8 cumulative GPA while taking eight Advanced Placement courses between his last two school years — and that is where it starts.



In addition to serving as student council president and playing five sports at Whittell, Harrison volunteers in the local community and is a member of the Nevada Youth Legislature. The 17-year-old is also the co-founder of a nonprofit that provides free interview coaching for minority undergraduate college students, and is back in the states fresh off an internship at an accounting firm in Scotland.

Harrison grew up across the pond in London, and his family moved to Lake Tahoe eight years ago. During the ceremony, he expressed gratitude to the local community and for the support he has seen during his time in Tahoe.



“I really appreciate the people, like everyone here, who are so happy to help everyone in the community,” Harrison said while wearing a cast on his arm from a recent dirt-bike accident.

In his essay, Harrison wrote about Upshaw’s qualities and how he embodied them. After graduating from high school, he plans to intern at one of the big four accounting firms in Europe before continuing his education — he listed his favorite celebrities in this year’s ACC as Stephen Curry, Justin Timberlake and Charles Barkley.

NBC Sports and Edgewood Companies contribute annually to the $5,000 scholarship awarded to a high-achieving local high school student that possesses the characteristics Upshaw displayed during his life and playing career with the Oakland Raiders. Those qualities include community service, leadership and academic excellence.

“It’s just important to keep [Gene’s] legacy moving forward to again helping within the community,” said Terri Upshaw, Gene’s wife. “We chose Tahoe because this is where we vacationed and had a home for many years — and it felt like home to us when we came here.”


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