As Edson Pacheco walked into a classroom at Thomas W. Harvey High School, his face lit up with excitement at the sight of the room filled with his family members – including his father, Eloy Pacheco Sr., siblings, nieces and nephews. He caught sight of his mother, Maria Pacheco, standing there, and ran towards her to wrap her in a hug.
Pacheco was then surprised with a $5,000 check from the Browns mascot, Chomps, and announced as one of the eight finalists for the second annual NFL Latino Youth Honors and will be recognized by the NFL and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation.
"Out of 64 people to be one of the chosen eight – just to be one of the 64 was such an honor – and now that I think about it, it makes me feel recognized," Pacheco said. "It makes me feel grateful for all the work that I've put in. I remember I told my dad the other day, 'Man, I'm starting to miss football,' because my last game was about a month ago. This just makes it all worth it."
The NFL Latino Youth Honors presented by Procter & Gamble, in partnership with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF), recognizes outstanding high school tackle and flag football athletes from around the country for their academic and athletic excellence.
Pacheco will receive a grant toward college and will participate in special events during Super Bowl LIX Week in New Orleans. Activities will be designed to provide mentorship, guidance and resources to pursue careers in professional sports and all eight finalists will attend the Super Bowl. During that week, a male and female national winner will be announced at NFL Honors, with the recipients receiving an invitation to HHF's National Youth Awards ceremony in 2025.
"The grant is something huge to me," Pacheco said. "I've put in the work and put in the effort. And I've never been taught to not value money, because money is a very big thing. And I'm just thinking about the things that I could pursue with that. I'm just so grateful. I'm thinking about my future, with my hard work and perseverance I can get anywhere."
Athletic Director and head football coach Mick Mohner originally nominated Pacheco for the NFL Latino Youth Honors program, first presenting him with the nomination in front of his teammates in Sept. 2024. He then helped plan the reveal for Pacheco at Thomas W. Harvey High School in November.
Mohner has seen Pacheco grow both on and off the field.
Pacheco joined the football program at Thomas W. Harvey High School in his sophomore year with little prior experience. Despite the challenges, his dedication and work ethic helped him evolve into a crucial member of the offensive line.
Off the field, Edson's leadership extends to the marching band, baseball team and videography club. Academically, he shines with a 3.72 GPA, balancing excellence in all aspects of student life while honoring his Mexican heritage.
"He's a special individual when you get to meet him. First-class kid, and just to see what this means to his family. And for the student body and the staff to see this, it's huge," Mohner said. "He's a very deserving individual and wanted to make sure that this is a moment he'll remember for the rest of his life. And I think we did that today."
As the reveal wrapped up, an announcement came over the PA system.
Pacheco's nephew, Rodrigo Flores, made an announcement over the PA system for students and teachers to line the hallway and congratulate Pacheco. As he walked out of the classroom and down the hallway with students and staff cheering, he walked with his arm around his mother's shoulders.
Maria traveled from Mexico, while his older brother Eloy Pacheco traveled from Texas, to be present for the surprise.
"It's really rewarding to see his hard work coming to fruition. This is something that we didn't expect at all. We know that Edson is brilliant. We knew he had good things coming for him. We just didn't know from which direction. It's not only putting the spotlight on him, but also putting the spotlight on the family, the city and the school," Eloy Pacheco said. "Edson didn't know that my mom was flying in from Mexico and didn't know that I was flying in from Texas. So, I think that was a big shock for him. We wanted to be here all together for him."
Learn more about the NFL Latino Youth Honors here: https://playfootball.nfl.com/discover/latino-youth-honors/.
