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<p><strong>From staff reports&nbsp;</strong></p>
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<p>John Asher Howell was this year’s recipient of the Jonathan Peck Skills for Life award when the Beaufort High School football team gathered for their annual banquet Wednesday, Feb. 23, on Dataw Island.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>The award honored Howell’s academic and social achievements, recognizing his positive attitude, perseverance and academic achievement.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Beaufort High players, coaches, school administrators and parents gathered in the Carolina Ballroom for a banquet and dinner sponsored by Dataw Island members. The community and Beaufort High School athletics have a special connection – many members enjoy supporting our local student athletes, attend games to cheer on their home crowd, and offer their support to these students. Each spring, the members pool resources to host the Beaufort High School Football Banquet.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Dataw Island member and football supporter Marilyn Peck congratulated the student athletes on an excellent season. At the banquet each year, Peck encourages players through a poem that was one of her husband’s favorites – Invictus by William Ernest Henley.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Peck’s late husband, Jonathan Peck, was also an avid football supporter. In his honor, the Jonathan Peck Skills for Life Award is given every year.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>The award recognizes an outstanding student athlete who exemplifies the traits that Jon Peck held dear, on and off the field: a positive attitude, ability to get along with everyone, spirituality, appearance, communication skills, and having a plan for improving themselves in academics and in life.&nbsp;</p>
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