Marcellus L. Harris, III

Through this program, Mr. Harris with the help of his colleagues coordinated the first elementary-age male leadership conference for young males at Newsome Park Elementary School. He has orchestrated numerous career fairs for young people to open their minds to the various occupations available to them through hard work and a desire to achieve their goals. He has been a keynote speaker at schools across the city for citizenship ceremonies, academic promotional ceremonies and athletic banquets. He serves as the youth minister at First Baptist Church Morrison here in the City of Newport News, where his father has served as the pastor for over 40 years.

Currently, Mr. Harris serves as an academic counselor at Denbigh High School, where he has been for the past 4 years. Mr. Harris also holds the title of the head football coach, in which he has held this position for the past 6 years. During the 2013 season, he led the team to the 7th winning season in the schools 49 year history while leading the school to its first playoff victory in the school’s history. He loves that through the sport of football, he can use his student’s passion for the game as lessons for life that all can learn from as members of the team. This year alone, his team has numerous seniors receiving full athletic scholarships to attend college, with several others joining the military upon their graduation.

Mr. Harris’ passion is mentoring and being a positive influence in the lives of people in the community in attempts to allowing our young people and their families to recognize the shining lights that they can serve here in our community. He has always felt obligated to give back to the community that has meant so much to him growing up while following in the path of his father that has been a model for standing up for social injustice, equality for all and always being available for the people that feel like they have no voice.