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Chris Harris
Rappahannock
graduate
receives football
scholarship
By Charlie Spiering
Rappahannock News Staff Writer
Chris Harris, son of Paul and Melissa Harris of Sperryville and a 2006 graduate of Rappahannock County High School, recently received a 4year, $17,000/year scholarship to play football at St. Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, Virginia.
“We are very proud of Chris’ achievement,” said his mother Melissa.
Paul and Melissa adopted Chris bringing him to the United States at the age of seven from Jamaica when his parents were unable to take responsibility for him.
Chris entered third-grade with very little previous education. He was unable to speak English well and was enrolled in special education classes. By the eighth grade he got out of special education and went into high school determined to succeed. Once he became a junior he pursued an advanced diploma, graduating in 2006 with the rest of his classmates.
“He is a great kid,” added Melissa, “even now, he is like 63. He grew way beyond Jamaica standards.”
Harris was a star athlete on the RCHS football team and also competed on the Cross Country team.
In spite of the fact that the Panthers were unable to win a game last season, Coach Keiser, from the Rappahannock Panthers team realized that Harris was an excellent athlete. He contacted Coach Bryant at Saint Paul’s providing him with football film of Harris’ performance.
“Chris is very coachable and very smart,” said football coach Bryant of the Tigers. “He works very hard and is very determined.” Bryant said that Harris has a lot of work ethic which is probably due to his background.
“He’s a diamond in the rough,” Bryant added.
Harris is currently studying for an engineering job, with a math major and a computer science minor. He is a freshman at St. Paul’s College, playing wide receiver for the Saint Paul Tigers. He is 6-3 and weighs 200 lbs.
Saint Paul’s College (SPC) is a historically black college, founded in 1888. It is a fouryear, private, liberal arts institute affiliated with the Episcopal Church. Saint Paul’s College provides a personalized education and an environment that fosters individual strengths and responds to individual needs. Its liberal arts, professional, and pre-professional programs prepare students for careers and graduate programs in humanities, social sciences, education, business, mathematics, and natural sciences.
Email the reporter at cspiering@timespapers.com
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