THE MODERATOR: This is one of the press conferences we love doing year after year. As Gary mentioned, Jon Miller is in the back. Please wave to everybody. Thank you for being here, Jon. Appreciate it.
Gary, we've already announced your title. We don't need to do that again.
But next to Gary is Terri Upshaw. Terri, it's always so nice to have you here, and we really appreciate the efforts you make to be back here every year. We know there's some travel for you, and it's really nice that you're here.
Next to Terri is our winner this year. This is Yuliana Rosales. We're going to hear from her pretty soon. Congratulations, and it's nice to have you here, okay.
And on the far right is Nancy Harrison, from the foundation at Lake Tahoe Community College.
Gary, tell us a little bit about the history of this event that we have and your association with Gene because that's where this is really coming from.
GARY QUINN: I'm going to try hopefully not to cry, and I'm hopefully not going to make Terri cry.
I've had the very good fortune of working on this event for 31 years now. Jon has given me the autonomy about 25 years ago to manage and oversee the event and grow it.
At the time that I started, Gene, for someone reason, such a great leader, he was the leader of the NFL Players Association, hall of fame player. And this is a man who is larger than life is putting his arms around the guy who was an intern a couple years ago, just saying, look, if you're going to run this event -- and giving me points on leadership and management. I was always blown away. And still to this day I can't understand why he took this interest in me.
But he had such a positive impact. And obviously when he passed, it obviously hit me so hard. I went to Jon and said, is there a way we can continue his legacy and honor him because he was from this community.
Jon said absolutely. And that's how the scholarship came to be because we thought it was important for the students who wouldn't know how great his career was, they would have to research who he was and just learn by example of what it takes to succeed.
So it's such a special thing to have people in the community that have their kids that have been recipients of this come up and say, you have no idea how much it's meant that that money, even though a small amount, that got them kickstarted with their collegiate career -- there was one that just stopped me the other day saying that their son's now, has his doctorate in physical therapy, and now he's helping others. And that means the world.
But then you read Yuliana's bio and her essay, and it really, it's a special and meaningful thing for us to be able to help her because she's going to be the first person in her family to go to college.
Now she can impact her family for generations to come by setting the baseline of this is what is possible. That's really, really special.
The other thing is it gives me a chance, personally, to reconnect with Terri. She's such a special person. And I wish I could see her more than once a year. But at least it ensures I get to see her once a year.
And also wanted to thank Nancy. She's been coordinating all of this. And without her we don't have the opportunity to celebrate Yuliana today.
THE MODERATOR: Terri, tell us your thoughts. We know it's emotional and whatnot, but you've always done a great job with this. We appreciate you being here every year for this to remember Gene.
TERRI UPSHAW: It's always special coming back. Definitely always hits home, hits hard. July and August are always really hard. Gene loved this event. He loved this community. He loved this man.
To just pay it forward, to be part of the community still is really special. Gary, you always -- you just always bring it home and keep it real.
I'm always honored to be here to celebrate our youth and somebody who is so deserving of the scholarship. Every year, it seems that the bar gets raised higher and higher.
I'm just amazed at the tenacity of the young kids and the community and kids who are in school and wanting to pursue and have their dreams. It's something that Gene always, the leadership of what he did, he always looked out for the younger guys in the football community and outside of the football community.
But it was always about paying it forward. That's what we're doing. We're paying it forward and giving you opportunity to advance your education, your career, pay it forward in your family and in your community. It's just remarkable. And I'm honored to meet you.
THE MODERATOR: Nancy as executive director of the Lake Tahoe Community College Foundation and partnerships, tell us a little bit about your involvement and how we got this together.
NANCY HARRISON: So the mission of the foundation is to support the students and the programs at Lake Tahoe Community College. For the upcoming academic year, we have $340,000 available for our students who are continuing or transferring. A lot of our students are overcoming hardship. As Gary said, Yuli is the first in her family to attend college.
So this is the third year that this scholarship has gone to an LTCC student. I got a call from Carol Chaplin a few years ago and asked if we would want the scholarship. It was, absolutely, oh, my gosh.
We are so grateful to NBC Sports and American Century because it's making such a huge impact on our students. Gary says a small amount. It isn't really. It's $10,000. That's our biggest single scholarship.
When I told Yuli, we both cried, because it's going to make such a big impact for her.
I think many of you may remember, so our first recipient two years ago was Richard Salazar, a formerly incarcerated individual. He spent 16 years in prison.
He graduated from Cal State San Bernardino this spring with his bachelor's degree. He is continuing on to get his master's. He's working with formerly incarcerated individuals to help them reacclimate to life outside of prison. He's just doing incredible.
Last year it was Kettja Bennett. Kettja, she completed her year -- she's at UNR studying engineering. She starts two summer-school classes on Monday. She's on an accelerated track and will graduate next spring with her engineering degree from UNR.
This scholarship is making such a huge impact on these students.
I think it's not just the money, but it's the support as well. Because I know Terri has kept in touch with Kettja. That's meaningful to Kettja as well, that you're also, from your heart, supporting these students.
It's so meaningful that you're a part of the community. And we're so grateful for that at the college. Thank you.
THE MODERATOR: This event is all about accomplishment. You've seen all these sports and entertainment folks out there. There's an awful lot of accomplishment in here today.
Would you like to introduce Yuliana for us?
NANCY HARRISON: Yes. Yuliana Rosales just graduated this spring. She will be attending UC Davis in the fall. She's born and raised in South Lake Tahoe. So a graduate of South Tahoe High School.
As Gary said, this year, there were a number of applicants that were worthy. And it was a tough decision. We all thought that Yuli stood out, and she's on a great track.
Yuli, please tell us.
YULIANA ROSALES: I'm a little nervous, but I'm so excited to be here, so honored. This scholarship is such an honor. I'm so thankful.
Like they mentioned, I am the first person in my family to be pursuing higher education. My parents did not get the chance, but throughout everything, they have made sure that me and my younger brother would.
Like Nancy mentioned, I just graduated LTC with my associate's degree in business administration and a certificate in accounting and finance. I will be transferring to UC Davis in the fall as a manager economics manager with an emphasis in international business economics.
I hope to use my degree to help people and just help them navigate through the financial systems that seem so complex and confusing.
I've experienced and seen firsthand just how overwhelming they can be especially when there's a lack of access and lack of information and/or language barrier.
I would like to make it easier for people to reach their goals. From what I've seen or from what I've learned from Gene, he stood for community leadership and just the kind of integrity that puts others first. I want to carry that forward and help others achieve their goals. That would be everything, and truly I have no words. This is just incredible. Thank you.
Q. I would like to know, what was the atmosphere in the home when it was announced that you were going to be a recipient of this scholarship, and how did the family and the community respond?
YULIANA ROSALES: I told my mom first. After talking with Nancy, I called my mom. She was so happy and so overjoyed, she was like, "Oh, my God, Yuli, congrats." I told my dad and we all hugged and were so excited.
Davis has been a dream for so long. So when it seemed really possible after this, we just were all so excited.
Q. Do you have plans to come back to this area after college?
YULIANA ROSALES: Definitely. I love Tahoe. My dad was also born and raised here. It's just like generations on. I love Tahoe so much. I want to help the community. I want to help other people that I know will stay here and help them navigate through this crazy world that we live in and just give back.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports