Winged Foot award honors area's finest

When Lely's Jameson Jean Gilles took the stage representing Lely High School at the 2006 Winged Foot Scholarship awards banquet, May 25 at the Naples Grande Resort, the spotlight was on him, but inside Gilles, the spotlight was on his dad.

Photo by KEN LANE, Collier Citizen

Lely's Jameson Jean Giles on the winners platform at the Cougar Invitational last year, taking one of the many top honors earned throughout his time as a Trojan.

"He is my hero," Gilles said of his father, Jules. "He has worked very hard to provide for me and my family and taught us the value of education." Giles took on the belief his father instilled in him, that only education will bring him to success. In only his sixth year in the United States, Gilles has turned that belief in to action.

During his senior year, Gilles maintained a dual enrollment in both Lely and Edison Community College and graduated with a 3.64 GPA.

Gilles was All-County in wrestling and track and was team captain of both, along with cross country. Jameson will be enrolling at Florida Gulf Coast University.

Gilles was edged out of the honor by the first Shark to receive the award for Gulf Coast, fellow wrestler, Lee Campbell. Emotions overwhelmed Campbell as he gave thanks to a handful of those who helped him to his many accomplishments, including his father, Jack and his mother, Mary.

"I thank God for the blessings he has given me in talent, ability and two of the most amazing parents," Cambell said. "There was no better sound than being on the wrestling mat and hearing that cowbell ring." An All-State football player and undefeated state wrestling champion in the 215-pound weight class, Campbell graduated Gulf Coast with a 4.27 gpa and is a member of the National Honor Society. Campbell will use the $10,000 scholarship award as he heads north to the University of Minnesota where he will be attend business school in the fall.

The importance of family emphasized by Giles and Campbell was a central theme of the evening's keynote speaker of baseball's Hall of Fame, Joe Morgan.

"Everything starts with the family," Morgan told to those in attendance. "That is what impresses me about tonight. Family and friends, that is what life is all about." Morgan went on to instill in all of the students the importance of never giving up on dreams, the need for a solid education and how very vital preparation will be in their journey. Nine years of his had him with side by side lockers with baseball legend Pete Rose.

Photo by KEN LANE, Collier Citizen

2006 Winged Foot award recipient, Lee Campbell of Gulf Coast stands with Athletic Director Jose Arias to his right, head wrestling coach Mike Digrigoli to his immediate left and football defensive coordinator, Jason Tudryn.

"There wasn't one game where we went out onto the field unprepared," Morgan said. "Preparation is the most important thing for success." Each nominees, including one senior from each high school in Collier County, received a $3000 stipend. Other nominees were Courtney Jacob of Barron Collier, Wyatt Russo of Community School, Chad Masters of Immokalee, Chip Miller of Naples, Amanda Jenner of Palmetto Ridge, Jami Raley of St. John Neumann, and Paul Johnson of Golden Gate.

"It felt really good to be nominated for the award," Johnson said following the event. "It makes me feel good to represent Golden Gate.

It is a great school with great teachers." Johnson, who lettered in and was captain of, the football, basketball and baseball teams, will be heading to Michigan University where he will be pursuing his own degree in education.

"I want to be a teacher myself," Johnson said. "It is really amazing, all that they do for us." Requirements for nomination included a 3.0 GPA and lettering in two sports. This was the seventeenth year for the event which was first held at the Collier Athletic Club.