Cherry Hill’s Malachi Neal Wins Prestigious Foot Locker Scholar Athlete Award
Photo of Malachi Neal courtesy of Mary Morris.
AC JosepH Media
CHERRY HILL — Cherry Hill’s Malachi Neal, a scholar-athlete on his way to the University of Pennsylvania, was selected this month as a winner of the Foot Locker Scholar Athletes for 2022-23, the company said.
The program highlights student-athletes who demonstrate exceptional academic ability and strong leadership skills in sports, in their schools, and within their communities. Neal and the other winners receive $20,000.
Applicants are judged based on good sportsmanship and strong moral character, are trusted and respected members of their schools and communities and have built a lasting impact on other students, administrators, and community members.
“We are proud of him and happy he has exceeded all expectations as a young minority male scholar-athlete,” Mary Morris, his mother, told Front Runner New Jersey.com on Saturday. “I would love to share his accomplishments with our community to inspire others and encourage his continued growth.”
He has been a member of FC Delco since 2020 and a member of REAL NJ from 2017-2020.
“[Neal] is a civic-minded student who has spent time outside of his academic and athletic demands helping to inspire and improve access for other youth,” Foot Locker said. “He has been an active member of 100 Black Men of America since 2018. As a mentee there, he has spoken at the National Convention and competed in the National African American History Challenge representing Philadelphia.
“He organized a Soccer clinic with his teammates to expose the younger mentees at 100 Black Men of America to Soccer after discovering many had no access or introduction to the sport. He was a speaker at the 9th annual W.E.B. DuBois Day in Philadelphia.”
Foot Locker said at school, Malachi facilitated a DEI Panel discussion and served as a school ambassador. Neal also volunteers at a local nursing home. He plans to become a computer engineer.
“Foot Locker Scholar Athletes aren’t reluctant role models,” Foot Locker said in a statement. “They are confident, honest, and passionate leaders who take on challenges for the greater good, come from diverse backgrounds and have varied academic ambitions, and play a wide range of sports.”
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