Chicken Express and Dave Campbell’s Texas Football are partnering to honor the heroes in your community. Male and female student-athletes that lead by example on the field of play and in the classroom can be honored as Chicken Express Community Heroes and receive scholarship money to continue their education beyond high school. Athletes can be nominated at TexasFootball.com/ChickenExpress.

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Parker Hughes
St. Paul’s Preparatory Academy

Parker Hughes is no stranger to success.

The senior from St. Paul’s High School has been a part of four state championships across basketball, track and cheerleading and is currently in the process of another playoff run on the Lady Lions’ basketball team.

But outside of her success for St. Paul’s, Hughes is also a tremendous soccer player. She’s the captain of her club team and led the program in scoring with 16 goals as a junior last year.

She manages all of that while working three jobs outside of school and sports and is also the National Honor Society Vice President and a Student Council representative.

Hughes, who has attended St. Paul’s since before Kindergarten, will attend Howard Payne University to further her education and soccer career upon graduating in the spring.

“It’s been a really gratifying experience to have been at the same school all these years,” Hughes said. “I’ll remember my time here through pictures, Facebook memories, connecting with friends and by coming home when I can. High school has been a blast and I’ve been honored to have been a part of several state championship teams, some great service projects and hundreds of fun memories I’ll cherish forever.”

While Hughes has accomplished her goal of moving on to play college soccer at the collegiate level, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing on the field. She was cut from her club team in 7^th grade after starting for the majority of the season but responded by bouncing back with a determination to prove that coach wrong.

“Moral of the story: if you have a dream and want to do something, don’t let disappointments set you back,” Hughes said. “Keep pushing to accomplish what you desire. I’m super excited to be a Yellow Jacket [at Howard Payne], but none of this could be possible without the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Without Him I am nothing.”

Josh Reed
Covenant Christian Academy

Josh Reed, a senior at Covenant Christian, is a two-time first team all-state football player. He was the line captain of the Cougars state championship team this season and stands at 6-2 and 240 pounds.

But what is most remarkable about Reed’s athletic ability is that despite being one of the more physically imposing players on the football team, he runs in two relays and two open events for the track squad as well.

As a captain on the football team, Reed brought key leadership to the field and was an important part of the team’s run to the state championship.

Outside of school, he reached the Star Scout rank of the Boy Scouts and has worked throughout high school to help earn money for college. He has a 4.0 grade point average and also volunteers at church every week.

After spending his freshman and sophomore year at Southlake Carroll, Reed transferred to Covenant Christian and has thrived in the new atmosphere. He has enjoyed the ability to volunteer with GRACE through the school and helps tutor underclassmen.

“I really enjoy helping people,” Reed said. “I really enjoy being a part of a school where there are 4-5 year-old kids who I can be a big buddy to. I can read to them, help them color and help them with school papers.”

Reed plans on attending a four-year college where he hopes to play football and obtain a business or medical degree.

“The teachers [at Covenant Christian] poured into me, and I learned to be a leader and mentor to the younger students in my school,” Reed said. “CCA has taught me the value of Christ, family and servant leadership.”