Herculaneum Senior Emily Fischer Recognized As Finalist For U.S. Army and Pro Football Hall of Fame
(HERCULANEUM, Mo.) A special day for the Herculaneum community saw junior Emily Fischer recognized as a finalist for the U.S. Army and Pro Football Hall of Fame Award of Excellence Friday afternoon in an assembly held in her honor.
Fischer is among just 25 finalists for an award that recognizes high school athletes for not only their athletic achievement, but their work academically and in the community as well. Athletically, Fischer is a three sport athlete participating in volleyball, basketball, and track and field.
The winner of the award will be announced during the Class of 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction weekend in Canton, Ohio August 4th-6th.
For Fischer, it's a recognition that recognizes her leadership skills.
“I’m just so honored to be a part of this,” Fischer said. “I’m just so excited to exceed in being a leader and growing to be a leader.”
Fischer's recognition marks the second consecutive year Herculaneum has seen one of their own honored as a finalist. Last year, it was Austin Knobbe receiving the prestigious honor. Herculaneum invited all of their students and staff to attend the assembly Friday that saw Pro Football Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow present the finalist award to Fischer.
This is the second time Winslow has gotten to present the award to a high school student, and thinks the candidates share a common trait.
“The one thing that you’re going to find that is consistent in all of these candidates for the award is they're humble,” Winslow said. “In some cases they’re overwhelmed with the whole process, but they’re used to competing and life is about competition so it takes a lot of guts to apply and then to be able to handle whether there is success or failure in achieving the award, but throughout that whole process there is that thread of humility.”
The Pro Football Hall of Fame teams up with the United States Army to honor the high school students across the nation. Staff Sgt. Zachary Chand, with the Festus Army Recruiting Center, has gotten the opportunity to speak and get to know Emily since before the application process began in the leadership club at Herculaneum.
“We’re two organizations (U.S. Army and NFL) that are highly based in high values,” Said Chand. “It speaks highly upon Emily, her family, and the community in the school and all her mentors that have pushed her in this direction to get her civic minded and make sure she is staying up with her grades, while being an athlete and contributing to the community.”
A big proponent for getting Knobbe, and now Fischer, a finalist for this award is head football and track and field coach David Cook. He is also a guidance counselor at Herculaneum. Fischer credited Cook with getting the application process started.
“About probably three months ago Coach Cook came to me and said he nominated me to fill out this application that Austin Knobbe had won last year,” Fischer said. “I was so honored to even get that and about a month ago I got home from basketball practice and my Mom told me she got a call and that I was one of the finalists and it was so exciting.”
Fischer made Cook's choice easy in whom to select to represent Herculaneum's applicant.
“Emily is one of those kids that kind of exemplifies and embodies what we hope our kids all will do,” Cook said. “She’s a good student, she works hard in the classroom and she may not be the biggest or fastest, but when she sets out on the track or court you’re getting 100 percent out of her and it’s the same way in the community and the classroom.”
Fischer maintains a grade point average of 3.8 in addition to playing three sports throughout the school year. However, it is what she does for others and the impact she makes on the community that she thinks is her best quality.
“I feel I’m a pretty compassionate person so every time I am leading or helping someone in the community, or at school, it warms my heart to know I’m helping others.” Fischer said.
Being named a finalist is just the first step for Fischer as she will have the opportunity to go to Canton, Ohio in early August. The Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is a festive full event that will honor the newest members of the Hall of Fame with the gold jacket, including former St. Louis Rams star Kurt Warner.
Winslow said the 25 finalists of the award will be a part of all the events that go along with the prestigious weekend.
“They’re (finalists) going to be incorporated into the weekend festivities,” Said Winslow. “They’ll get a chance with the Army and the returning candidates that have won and I think they’re going to be a part of most things we do so they will be recognized at all the public events and it will be a great experience.”
The award embodies the hard work and competitiveness of a scholar-athlete, something Winslow and Cook both echoed throughout the assembly honoring Fischer. She said the hard work ethic she embodies comes from her family and being taught to always give "110 percent."
Cook sees the work ethic and level of competition on a regular basis from Fischer.
“I don’t know if I have ever seen her without a smile on her face,” Cook said. “I know there have been times that she’s tired and hurting, but when she was a freshman you could tell we had a special kid on hand and she competes every time she has a chance to do so with a positive attitude.”
It comes in a rare form to see an athlete that is as fierce of a competitor as Fischer, but embodies the selflessness of a humanitarian. When asked about attending the Pro Football Hall of Fame Ceremony, her first thought was how it was a bit unfortunate because she was going to be away from her teammates missing the beginning of volleyball practices for her senior year.
Currently, Fischer is competing in track running the 4x200 relays, 200, 400, and 800 meter runs. She wanted to thank the people that helped her along the way.
“My family, my friends, teammates, coaches, pastor, and just everyone that has been there for me have all played a bigger role than they can imagine in my life and I can’t thank them enough for the support.” Fischer said.
Fischer will find out if she is the 2017 U.S. Army and Pro Football Hall of Fame Award For Excellence winner on Saturday, August 5th in Canton in a special recognition ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
