Former Houston Texans Player Devard Darling Awards $10,000 In Scholarships to Fort Bend ISD Students.
Former Houston Texans player and FBISD Alumni, Devard Darling awarded college scholarships to deserving students through his As One Foundation. The $1,000 scholarships were awarded to ten Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD) high school seniors at the 10th Annual Devard & Devaughn Darling Scholarship Award Ceremony on Thursday, July 19, 2018, at Center Stage Art Gallery, in Sugar Land, Texas.
The As One Foundation was established by Devard Darling, an NFL wide receiver, in memory of his twin brother, Devaughn Darling, with the mission to unlock and unleash the full potential of youth while encouraging them to achieve their dreams in the face of life challenges. Since Devaughn’s tragic death during a pre-season conditioning workout at Florida State University due to sickle cell trait exertion, the mission later became to educate and increase awareness of sickle cell trait while encouraging youth to achieve their dreams in the face of life challenges.
The Devard & Devaughn Darling Scholarship Awards is Darling’s way of turning the loss of his identical twin brother, into something positive. It’s also a way to say thank you to the people who helped them both succeed as student-athletes. “I just know Devaughn is smiling down to know we’ve awarded $100,000 in scholarships in these first ten years of the As One Foundation,” says Darling. “It is so important to show these young people they are worth our time and money. So many did that for me and my brother, now this is my chance to pay it forward.”
The 2018 Recipients are Tyra James, Kyser Lim, Baylee Suzanne Redmond and Robert Wilson of Austin High School; Jane Akwitti, Samantha Alarcon and Wade Freeman III of Bush High School; Alice Opiyo ofClements High School; Oluwatoni Ajala of Dulles High School and Camden Kelly of Elkins High School.
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About the As One Foundation
The As One Foundation takes its name from the fact that the doctor had been hearing two hearts beating As One while their mother carried them, unaware she was having twins. Devard lived on to fulfill his and his brother’s shared dream to play professional football and to give back to both their homes – Houston, Texas and their native Bahamas. This dream became official in 2007 when the As One Foundation was established as a public charity with the mission to educate and increase awareness of sickle cell trait while encouraging youth to achieve their dreams in the face of life’s challenges.
About Operation Hydration
On February 26, 2001, 18 year old, Devaughn Darling lost his life due to exhaustion during spring football practice at Florida State University. Both twins carry the sickle cell trait, which alone is no real threat to the 8% of people of color in America born with the trait, but coupled with physical rigor and lack of hydration could be fatal. Devaughn’s death was preventable. Through Operation Hydration sickle cell awareness is promoted, free sickle cell trait screenings are offered and hydration is encouraged as prevention of athletic or fitness related death – especially in sickle cell trait carriers.
About Devard Darling
Devard Darling, the founder, and visionary of the As One Foundation and a former National Football League (NFL) wide receiver. A native of Nassau, Bahamas, Darling is one of the first Bahamian athletes to play professional football in the United States.
Devard learned how to play American football with his brother Devaughn when their family moved to Houston, Texas in 1994. He began his athletic career at Florida State University as one of the top high school prospects out of Stephen F. Austin High School in Houston, Texas in 2000. However, after the tragic passing of his identical twin brother Devaughn on the during spring conditioning in 2001, Florida State University would not reinstate Darling for his remaining eligibility. After being connected with Mike Price, former Head Coach of the Washington State University Cougars, Darling was cleared to play and became one of the best wide receivers in Washington State history, recording 16 touchdowns and over 1500 yards in just two years. In 2004, Darling was selected by the Baltimore Ravens 82nd overall in the 3rd round of the NFL Draft. He later played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Omaha Nighthawks, and Houston Texans, before retiring after the 2011 season. Devard continues to pursue his goals as an entrepreneur while bringing to life the dream envisioned by him and his brother Devaughn: to give back to youth as well as bring the game of American football to their native Bahamas.
For more information on the As One Foundation, call Tomia Austin at 914-625-8712, mobile or 832-308-9984, office; or email Tomia@AsOneFoundation.org. Please visit www.AsOneFoundation.org.
