Wallace Jr. High student attends Pop Warner banquet

Each year, the most academically accomplished Pop Warner athletes compete for Academic All-American status. This process begins at the association level and up through each of the eight Pop Warner regions to the national level. This year Pop Warner announced they received a record number of more than 9,700 All American applications.

Cameron Anderson, a 7th grade student at Wallace Junior High School was among those 9,700 applications. Cameron was selected as a National First Team All-American Scholar, putting him in the top 2% of Pop Warner athletes academically in the nation.

As a result of being selected as a Pop Warner All-American Scholar, Cameron and his family were invited to attend the 51st Annual Scholar All American Scholastic Banquet that took place on May 27th and 28th in downtown Chicago, IL. Further, Pop Warner invited the young scholars to compete for the coveted title of Youth Presenter at the formal event. Each scholar was given the opportunity to complete an application and submit an essay on “What Being an All American Means to Me.” Cameron took a chance and submitted his entry and was one of five scholars chosen to be a Youth Presenter at the banquet.

This special banquet night drew approximately 2,000 people from across the country. Cameron Anderson had the honor of presenting to New York Giants first round pick and Nebraska All-American cornerback Prince Amukamara (above, with Cameron). Amukamara was the first-ever recipient of the Pop Warner College Football Award, which he received back in December at the College Football Awards at Disney. Cameron was matched to present to Mr. Amukamara because of their common ground (they both played Pop Warner Football in Arizona). Amukamara rounded out this year’s selection of Banquet Awardees, joining AFL Commissioner Jerry Kurz, Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte, USA Softball player Tammy Williams, and the 2011 Pop Warner NFL Team of the Year the Chicago Bears.

Cameron expressed in his essays that being an All American Scholar and a Role Model, includes promoting those things which are positive. “I give thanks to God for giving me the ability to succeed academically, of being named as a First Team All American Scholar, and to have been chosen as one of five Youth Presenters. It is one of the greatest honors and blessings God has given me.”

Cameron would like to encourage the youth in the community to get involved with the Pop Warner Program and to put in the extra effort at school. “The experience of being an All-American Scholar is awesome!”

Parker Pop Warner is still signing kids up from ages 5 and up for both flag and tackle football, and cheer. Please contact Parker Pop Warner President Barney Aspa at (928) 916-0252 for information on how you can get involved this season.