By By Jared Florreich / staff writer
June 18, 2003
One of the most famous and successful athletes ever to come from Meridian High School, Kenyatta Walker, will be the guest of honor at the Boys and Girls Club 11th annual celebration of excellence dinner at 6 p.m. Thursday.
The event will take place in the Frank Cochran Center at Highland Park, and it will be used as a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club. A $100 donation to the Boys and Girls Club will be required for admission.
Interim executive director of the Boys and Girls Club Gloria Campbell said the celebration of excellence dinner is the main fundraiser for Boys and Girls Club. She said 500 people attended last year, and the organization expects a similar crowd this year.
Campbell said this year's event is particularly important.
According to Patricia Flowers, Director of Development for the Boys and Girls Club, the organization serves 212 kids on a daily basis. This fundraiser will help the Boys and Girls Club update computer software, buy new materials and train professional people.
Walker, a 1997 graduate of Meridian High, attended the Boys and Girls Club growing up, and he had his first job at the club at 16.
Following high school, Walker went on to have a highly successful college career as an offensive lineman at the University of Florida. He was a 2001 first round draft pick (14th overall) by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and has been a fixture on the Bucs' offensive line ever since.
Walker started all 16 games as a rookie and was named to Pro Football Weekly's All-Rookie Team. He was a member of the the Buccaneers Super Bowl Championship team last season.