Excellence Achieving

Perry, a senior, is a multi-faceted, multi-talented, well respected member of the Collegiate community. A K-12 “lifer” on North Mooreland Road, he’s an A-student, SCA class representative, and dynamic force in the football, track, and lacrosse programs.

 

He’s well known around campus for his leadership skills, energy, bright smile, positive outlook, and genial personality. He’s self-confident yet humble and totally genuine. He conveys, even with the media attention he’s received this fall for his football exploits, a sincere it’s-not-at-all-about-Excellence demeanor.

 

And, yes, Excellence is really his name.  He wears it with pride.

 

“My parents (Lazerek and Jocellyn) are Christian parents,” Perry said. “They believe in values that you should have in your life. They always preach at home: just do your best. My name is a reminder of what I can do.”

 

Justice is the 18-year-old Perry’s middle name. His 13-year-old sister is Triumph Promise Perry.

 

“My parents had a vision, a purpose,” Perry continued. “They really believe if my name is Excellence and my sister is Triumph that we will grow up with those values. It wasn’t something they did just to sound cool. They wanted to ensure that we could achieve the things we wanted to achieve.”

 

So far this fall, Perry, a captain and two-season starter at tailback, has achieved prodigiously on the football field.

 

As the Cougars (5-2) head into Saturday’s Homecoming matchup with St. Christopher’s, Perry (5-10, 170 pounds) ranks among area leaders in rushing (100 carries for 1,008 yards, an average of 144 yards per game) and scoring (102 points on 17 touchdowns, four of which came against Fork Union). From his tailback position, he’s caught 11 passes for 240 yards. He also starts at cornerback.

 

 

“When I think of Excellence as a player and leader, it makes me smile,” said head football coach Mark Palyo. “He’s quality on and off the field. He’s about the team being the best it can be. He gives it his best every single day. One of Collegiate’s core values is excellence. That’s truly who this young man is and what he represents.”

 

That said, growing up with the name “Excellence” has definitely been interesting.

 

“Usually when I meet adults, they’ll look at me and pause and process,” he said. “Then they’ll say, ‘OK, tell me your actual name.’ That’s a normal reaction. Then I’ll go, ‘No…that is my actual name.’ When I talk to people my own age, it’s usually, ‘Oh, that’s so cool.’”

 

Predictably, the local media has picked up on the “Excellence Perry lived up to his name” theme in news stories and televised interviews.

 

“It’s always nice to get recognition, but being on a football team, the attention kind of concerned me,” Perry said. “I don’t want anyone to believe it’s just the things I do that help the team achieve greater things. I don’t want them to believe that I’m better or at a higher level than other people The majority my success comes from the people around me. And the puns do get kind of tiring after a while.”

 

Still, growing up “Excellence” has never been a burden. Instead, it’s defined him, challenged him, and motivated him.

 

“It’s part of me,” he said. “It’s showed me who I can be. I wouldn’t want to go through life without that constant reminder. It’s something special. Without it, the different experiences I’ve had wouldn’t have formed me into the person I am today. I can honestly say, without a shadow of a doubt, that I wouldn’t want my name to be anything else.”

            -- Weldon Bradshaw