By Chad Conine

Tribune-Herald staff writer

As Thomas Ward and Marquis Foreman gazed down at the brand new plaques in their arms, reality settled on them.

University High School’s most famous alumnus, San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson, brought this year’s 15 recipients of the scholarship in his name together Friday evening at the Baylor University Hughes-Dillard Alumni Center.

The University graduates still beamed following the scholarship ceremony as they waited to personally hug and thank the Trojan hero for $1,000 contributions to their academic futures. The diverse group included boys and girls, black, Hispanic and white students.

Ward and Foreman — both, like Tomlinson, products of University’s athletic program — seemed to hold their scholarship certificates with a higher degree of reverence and responsibility.

“I play basketball and I only got a few scholarship offers,” said Foreman, a second-team Super Centex selection. “But I’m trying to make the best out of it. LT made it to the top spot. This is a treat to get to meet him knowing he helped you out and supported you.”

Ward intends to follow Tomlinson almost exactly. He said he’s going to TCU on a full academic scholarship and will attempt to walk on to the Horned Frogs football team.

Tomlinson went from University, where he rushed for a city-record 2,554 yards as a senior in 1996; to TCU, where he rushed for 5,263 yards in his career; to the NFL, where he was the NFL MVP for the Chargers after scoring a league-record 31 touchdowns in 2006.

However, Friday’s ceremony didn’t include highlight reels of LT shaking tacklers and sprinting to the end zone. The focus centered on Tomlinson’s work, along with his wife LaTorsha, in the San Diego, Fort Worth and Waco communities.

LaTorsha Tomlinson took the podium briefly during the ceremony to explain how important academics were in her life. She emphasized that she wants to inspire students, especially girls, who don’t have the opportunity of an NFL career in their futures.

The 2007 class of LaDainian Tomlinson Scholarship winners included nine girls. One of them, University valedictorian Yesenia Rangel, said receiving the $1,000 scholarship serves as an inspiration as she hopes to become a math teacher.

Jasmine Romero moved from San Antonio to the Methodist Home two years ago. She worked for the privilege to attend public school as a senior, then applied for and earned one of the LT scholarships.

“I’m already attending MCC,” Romero said. “I’m going for nursing and the RN program. I want to transfer to (UT-Arlington) and get a bachelor’s in nursing. Having to pay your own tuition is hard.”

Tomlinson, who always seems to display more substance than flash, easily blended with the scholarship recipients — before, during and after the ceremony.

He was awed that the recent University graduates held him up as a role model.

“That’s the kind of impact you want to have on teenagers,” Tomlinson said.

With the rising cost of a college degree, the intangible value of the LT scholarships might far outweigh the actual financial impact.

Foreman is headed to East Texas Baptist to play basketball and said he’ll probably use the LT scholarship money for books.

But it will still help put him through school.

“Knowing I’ve got it is going to give me that extra boost that LT supported me,” he said. “I have to stay focused and stay out of trouble.”

cconine@wacotrib.com

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