WPCNR PRESS BOX. April 18, 2006: Whitney Ford, the New York State Triple Jump Track & Field Champion, became the fourth White Plains High School Scholar Athlete to be awarded a “4-year Full Ride” Scholarship today when she signed a Letter of Intent to attend Boston University and jump for the Terriers. With her sister Simone, brother Tyler, and her father James looking on Ms. Ford capped a brilliant career in WPHS Track & Field by declaring her commitment to BU.

 From Tiger to Terrier: Whitney Ford beaming with her father, (James,far right) and the WPHS Track & Field Coaches who all described her as hard-working, a great team leader and most of all, “a great heart.” Coaches are Dan Furry, Fred Singleton, Fred Zimmel, and Coach McCormick. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

 Whitney signs with her mother’s pen: In a touching gesture, when it came time for Ms. Ford to sign her Letter of Intent, Mr. Ford produced a pen in a special case, which he said was Whitney’s mother's pen. "Mr. Scholarship," Gary Matthews(standing)  takes care of the paperwork. Whitney's brother Tyler is at left, her sister, Simone, to the right.  Photo, WPCNR Sports.

Approximately 15 of Ms. Ford’s teammates spoke congratulating her, saluting her for her leadership, her help, and the way she warms the team up.

Whitney’s Father, James Ford, speaking to WPCNR, attributed her success this way: "Whitney is a hard worker, and a family person, family oriented, and so being a role model (for her sister and brother), has helped her to become all she wants to be. She set examples for her sister and brother and never to say never. She’s able to persevere and get  to the next level. She’s dealt with a lot of adversity in her life and she’s used that not as a crutch, but as a stepping stone to get to the next step.”

Whitney Ford addresses her "WPHS Family." Photo, WPCNR Sports.

WPCNR asked Ms. Ford how she came to choose BU, and she. “They have a good communications program which is another major I was looking at. The academics were good all around and that’s what I was looking for. They’re ranked really well as far as a good communications program”

Whitney said she would be continuing her Triple Jump specialty (she jumps 40 feet according to WPHS women’s track coach Fred Zimmel): “That’s another reason I went there, the coach really specialized in my event out of all the schools. They had good coaches, but my BU coach (Robin Johnson) went to the Olympics and she’s jumped 45. The fact that she knows so much about the event and knows it physically, she can help me out a lot better. The progress I’ve watched of my soon-to-be teammates who are on the team now was good for me to see, so I’m glad the progress was good, it’s a new beginning.”

Whitney Ford joins Elise Bronzo (Cogate) and Conor Gilmartin-Donohue (Northeastern University) and Kelsey Kulk (Kenesaw Mountain State)  as four year academic-athletic scholarship student atletes this year, the most in WPHS history. Another signee is expected next week, according to Henry Cafaro, Director of Guidance.

Gary Matthews, “Mr. Scholarship” at White Plains High School, a terrific networker, who works tirelessly to connect WPHS  athletes to schools for scholarships, remarks that Ms. Ford and Ms. Bronzo are evidence that girl athletes have excellent opportunities to win athletic scholarships because of the colleges attempting to build up their women’s programs. He says it is much harder for male athletes. Matthews says he is currently working on partial scholarhips  for several other athletes at this time, and these will not be the last.

In closing the emotional proud gathering for all, Mr. Matthews said he hoped Whitney's example  would inspire all students: "Don't sell yoursef short by not being the best you can be while you're here."