"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Stanley, SHS Quarterback, Named

***"Rueben Diaz with Channel 8 interviews Sequoyah senior Nathan Stanley after presenting him with the award for the Channel 8 Player of the Week."***

TAHLEQUAH, OK - Sequoyah Senior Nathan Stanley set many goals for himself as he entered his senior football season. This week, he can mark another one of those goals off of his list. The 6’5” quarterback was selected as Channel 8’s Player of the Week for week nine of the football season. Rueben Diaz with channel 8 showed up at football practice on Tuesday to surprise Stanley with the award.

“It’s an honor to be selected for this award,” Stanley said. “To be the only kid from this area, that’s a big deal.”

“Players of the Week are nominated by viewers, coaches, and I research it myself,” Diaz said. “It is based on their weekly performance with weight on the whole year’s performance. It’s a pretty big award. It’s the premier high school award in this area.”

Each Channel 8 Player of the Week is in the running for the annual Ford Award. Channel 8 will present the Ford Award to one outstanding football player at a banquet in early December. Stanley is the first football player from Sequoyah to ever win this honor. Other accomplishments for the year include leading the team to an eight win and one loss season and earning the title of All-American.

“We just have to take it one game at a time,” Stanley said. “We have to watch a lot of films and keep working hard. The season’s not over yet.”

Stanley will keep working hard until his team wins a state championship, his ultimate goal for the season.

The surprise award presentation will air on Channel 8 at 10 p.m. on Thursday, November 1. The Sequoyah football team will take on the Keys Cougars at Keys Friday night for the district championship.

Sequoyah Schools, a boarding school for Native American students, originated in 1871 as an orphan asylum to take care of many orphans who came out of the Civil War. It has since served as the Sequoyah Orphan Training School and the Sequoyah Vocational School. Now known as Sequoyah Schools, it is named for Sequoyah, the scholar who developed the Cherokee syllabary. In November 1985, the Cherokee Nation assumed the operation of Sequoyah. It is regionally and state accredited for grades 7-12 and has become the school of choice for more than 400 students every year.

For more information about Sequoyah call (918) 453-5400 or visit the Sequoyah School web site.