2014 Gene Upshaw Scholarship awarded to Whittell High student Melissa Petty

George Whittell High School student Melissa Petty of Stateline, NV. was announced as the recipient for the sixth annual Gene Upshaw Scholarship Award at this year’s American Century Championship. Petty’s essay about her hard work in the classroom, her sports, her faith and goodwill helped secure the scholarship valued at $5,000. Petty plans to attend the University of Nevada, Reno and pursue a bachelor’s degree in science.

NBC Sports and Edgewood Companies both contribute equally to the scholarship, which is awarded to individuals possessing characteristics of leadership, community service, and academic excellence. Terri Upshaw, Gene’s widow, was at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course to present the award. Initiated in memory of NFL Hall of Famer and longtime NFLPA Executive Director Gene Upshaw, the scholarship assists the ongoing education of young leaders.

Petty is involved wth community service projects with her youth church group, maintains honor roll status, practices dance, and is a member of the Douglas County 4-H group. She had only skied three times in her life when she joined the Whittell ski team in her junior year of high school. Named “most improved” her senior year, Petty participated with her team in state competition. Besides her sport, she was recently selected by Tahoe Douglas Rotary Club to attend a Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) camp.

“Gene would be extremely proud to have his named linked to this scholarship. Gene was not about his own accomplishments, rather for lifting up those around him,” said Terri Upshaw.

Gene Upshaw (1945-2008) was a popular participant in the annual celebrity golf tournament that comes to Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course each summer.

Upshaw was a part-time resident for more than 30 years at his second home in North Lake Tahoe. In 2009, the Gene Upshaw Memorial Fund was created by Terri Upshaw; since then, the fund has raised nearly $700,000 for pancreatic cancer research, quality medical treatment and care for cancer patients and their families, sustainability and advancement of medical technology, and funding for research in areas such as traumatic brain injury. The fund supports the Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation, as well as the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center, which opened in 2012, (http://tahoecancercenter.com/) and the Tahoe Institute for Rural Health Research. (http://www.gu63.org)

In 1987, after playing with the Oakland Raiders, Gene Upshaw was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. As an executive director for the National Football League Players’ Association until his passing, Upshaw was known for his honesty, hard work and attention to the well-being of his players and everyone around him.

After Upshaw’s death, NBC Sports and Edgewood Companies collaborated and established the scholarship to honor Upshaw’s life, work and connection to the Lake Tahoe community.

“When Gene passed six years ago we created this because we wanted to ensure that his legacy lived on,” said Gary Quinn, vice president of programming and owned properties for NBC Sports. “We want people in this community to remember what a great community member and leader Gene was during his career.”

“The focus of Edgewood Companies’ charitable programs is really on youth and education. So participating in the Gene Upshaw Scholarship Award fits right into our core values as a company,” said Patrick Rhamey, executive vice president of Edgewood Companies.

http://southtahoenow.com/story/07/09/2014/gene-upshaw-memorial-golf-classic-brings-out-stars-july-13-14