Youth wins skateboard sports camp scholarship

Written by admin on May 29, 2009 – 5:13 pm -

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By Ernest Herndon | Enterprise-Journal

Posted: 05/27/09 – 01:38:21 pm CDT

When Kendrell McNeil walked into McComb Mayor Zach Patterson’s office a couple of years ago, he was hoping to find a place for youths to skateboard.

He wound up with a scholarship to a Pennsylvania sports camp and plans for a McComb city skate park.

Kendrell, 14, of McComb, will go June 14-20 to Woodward Camp in Woodward, Pa., which provides instruction in a variety of action sports.

He received a $400 scholarship toward the $950 tuition. Family and friends donated the rest, including $605 round-trip plane fare.

“How I got it is thanks to the mayor,” said Kendrell, who’s finishing the eighth grade at Denman Junior High School.

Kendrell learned about the camp on television. His mother, Belinda Knox, asked Patterson to write a letter of recommendation to accompany a scholarship application.

On Jan. 23 Patterson penned a glowing letter, recalling Kendrell’s first visit to his office.

“I met Kendrell almost two years ago when he walked boldly into my office,” Patterson’s letter said. “From this first of many follow-up office visits with Kendrell, I knew he was a special young man. He had a mission and he was determined and would not be deterred. He was passionate and driven on the idea of building a skate park in his city.”

Kendrell’s visit led to a petition asking the city to build a skate park.

“Through Kendrell’s hard work, determination and diplomatic skills, he convinced the City Council to build a skate park in McComb, Miss.,” Patterson’s letter said, describing the proposed park as Kendrell’s “brainchild.”

“We hope to fund and complete this project in the next fiscal year and complete the skate park no later than the end of the summer of 2010,” Patterson wrote.

Patterson noted that Kendrell is “active in his school and is a stellar student, and he is employed by me occasionally to earn extra money for food, school supplies and his passion — skateboarding.”

Kendrell’s mom was glad to hear about the skate park plans.

“They’re getting thrown out everywhere they go,” Knox said of Kendrell and his friends.

“To him and his friends it’s more than a sport. It’s what they do.”

She said she gets tired of driving to skate parks in Hammond, La., and Jackson when one could be built in McComb, bringing economic benefits to the area. “What they don’t realize is the ones we go to is where we spend our money,” Knox said.

She credited “the grace of God,” Kendrell’s grandmother Freddie Knox and friend Sharon Shivers, both of Liberty, with providing financial support for the skate camp trip. She said Kendrell will start a savings account for next year.

Kendrell said skateboards cost around $120 each, though he can buy them piecemeal cheaper. Skateboarders also need elbow and knee pads and helmets.

“If I had the money for the skateboards I’ve done bought, I’d be rich,” Knox said, estimating Kendrell has owned more than 20.

However, it’s worth it, she said.

“It keeps them off the streets, keeps them out of trouble, off of drugs, fighting. (It’s) something different. Keeps them motivated,


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