STATELINE, Nev. – This year’s recipient of the Gene Upshaw Scholarship is Samantha Brumbach, a George Whittell High School incoming senior who is also a varsity soccer player and UNICEF and Key Club member.

The award recognizes a Tahoe area student who has shown leadership and excellence in sports and academics. Upshaw was a regular at the American Century Champion-ship. He played for the Oakland Raiders for 15 seasons, was inducted into the Hall of Fame, and then served as National Football League Players Association executive director. He died from pancreatic cancer in August 2008. To preserve his memory, the Gene Upshaw Scholarship was created.

“Gene always believed in academics, athletics, and the arts,” his wife Terri Upshaw said at a press conference Sunday to award the scholarship.

This is the second year the scholarship has been awarded. This year the scholarship increased from $2,500 to $5,000, due to an additional contribution from NBC Sports and Edgewood Companies.

In addition to her academic activities, Brumbach also is a member of the National Honors Society and has a 4.28 grade point average.

“You exhibit exemplary attributes in athletics and academics,” Terri Upshaw said.

Brumbach, who has not decided on a college yet, said she was honored to receive the award.

“I admire so much how he (Upshaw) balanced his life between academics and athletics and community service,” Brumbach said.