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Lavell Watson is a varsity basketball player, honor roll student, volunteer, son and role model. He's also The Augusta Chronicle Community Counts Youth of the Month.
The Glenn Hills High School junior was nominated by Sandra Sheppard, who works with his mother, Glenda, and has known Lavell for more than six years.
"Lavell always stays focused on his future and handles his day-to-day challenges with a great positive attitude," she wrote on the nomination form.
His motivation comes from home, Lavell said.
"One big motivation -- she might not even know this -- but is my mom," he said.
Ms. Watson has renal disease and must have dialysis every night at their home.
"She does it like it's nothing," he said.
Ms. Watson said she tries to stay upbeat, and Lavell has helped -- he's learned to set the machine, so it's easier.
The perseverance of his grandfather, William Jackson, who continues to work hard, also inspires him, Lavell said.
Lavell started playing basketball when he was 8 and hopes to continue playing in college, but he has priorities: "I gotta be a student before an athlete."
He's also involved in his church. He's the secretary for the Christian Care Ministry at New Life Worship Center and volunteers with Angel Food Ministries food distribution.
In school, his favorite subject is math, and he hopes to earn a degree in computer engineering.
Ms. Watson says she has tried to instill the importance of good grades, and Lavell has taken it to heart. He gets disappointed with a B , she said.
Lavell, in turn, has passed the message along to his 8-year-old nephew, Talique Watson. He helps him with his homework and they play basketball together.
WHAT IS COMMUNITY COUNTS?
Community Counts is The Augusta Chronicle's collaborative effort to benefit the communities in our area.
SALUTE AN OUTSTANDING YOUTH
The Augusta Chronicle's Community Counts Youth of the Month award recognizes good students who have special talents in the arts, athletics or other areas. Nominees must be 8 to 18 and residents of the Aiken-Augusta area. Nomination forms are available at chronicle.augusta.com/communitycounts/nominate. For more information on the nomination process, call (706) 823-3223 or e-mail sarah.owen@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
Keep up the good work Lavell, you are a fine young man and will reap the rewards. Good bless you.
Congratulations Charlie....I am not surprised, but yet, very proud. This is just another one of your great accomplishments. Keep up the good work and I wish you the best in all of your future endeavors....
Trukin ranger sounds a little like a hater.
Good job Lavell. Keep striving, Stay grounded and relish is the support of your fellow churchgoers. Study hard and keep your priorities in order. When you face the opponent (people who would undermine you and hate you without a cause), shake the dust off and move on. We're praying for you.
Way to Go - STANK!!!!!
Way to go !!!!!!! Well Done Ms Watson...and Lavell you are to be congratulated !!!
To my 1st son, I will not state the name that I call u by because I do not want to embarrass you. However, I do want to state that I love you more than you will ever know and I am extremely proud of you. Augusta Chronicle could not have picked a better representation for youth of the month. Being that they chose you, it should be renamed as "Youth of a Lifetime". That is because you are such an inspiration to all youth all over the country. Depite the many hurdles in your life, you still maintain such great determination and focus. That is hard to do in this generation of youth, but you still seem to maintain a steady pace of excellence. Besides your mother and Grandma Watson, I cannot be any prouder of you. I Love You So Much and Keep Up the Good work!!!!! Love Your Favorite Aunt, Crystal. (P.S.: Keep New York in your Heart!!!!!!!!!)
Congratulations Lavell! I know you will achieve whatever your heart desires because I know you love the Lord! I also know that you respect your mom and dad. Keep up the good work!! I love you.
Big Ups to Lavell! (From the GHHS c/o 1987)
Way to Go!!! From your Extended Family in "Mustangs" Country.
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