MANILA, Philippines -- Kobe Paras is not only excelling in basketball in the US but also in academics.
The UCLA-bound Paras was inducted into the US National Honor Society on Thursday (Friday Manila time).
@coachmiddlebrks @Im_Not_Kobe Making the family proud; Kobe Paras gets installed to the National Honor Society today pic.twitter.com/djBceXT68R
— Phantom Basketball (@chs_phantoms) December 4, 2015 Paras was one of the six players in the Phantoms basketball team that were part of the 25 student athletes who made it to the honor roll last semester.
READ: Kobe Paras makes it to LA Cathedral's honor roll
Paras is currently finishing his high school studies at LA Cathedral while playing his final varsity year with the Middlebrooks Academy Sphinx.
His high school coach William Middlebrooks, who facilitated his recruitment at UCLA Bruins in the US NCAA, saw Paras' achievement as a reward for his effort not only on the basketball court but more especially in the classroom.
READ: UCLA coach Steve Alford thrilled to sign Kobe Paras to 4-yr scholarship
Thanks coach. Appreciate it! https://t.co/fH2hMB7kIW
— Kobe™ (@Im_Not_Kobe) December 4, 2015 @chs_phantoms @Im_Not_Kobe Its about academic excellence, 1st & foremost. Congrats Kobe. Your hard work in the classroom has been rewarded.
— Coach Middlebrooks™® (@coachmiddlebrks) December 4, 2015 The 18-year old son of former PBA Rookie-MVP Benjie Paras was able to meet all the stringent requirements of the premier organization established to recognize outstanding high school students in the US since 1921.
According to the NHS official website, a student can become a member if he excels in school (cumulative GPA of 85), does voluntary contributions to the school or community without compensation, show exemplary leadership by being resourceful, good problem solvers, and idea contributors, and has good character and cooperative; demonstrates high standards of honesty and reliability; shows courtesy, concern, and respect for others; and generally maintains a clean disciplinary record.
As an NHS member, Paras can have exclusive access to leadership development, motivation, and inspiration gained through their own chapter’s work, at 3 LEAD Conferences in various locations each year, or at NHS State Summits, to innovative leadership cultivation and career exploration, unique member-only college admission resources, integrating web and social media platforms, and help with financing college education through a members-only scholarship search tool and the NHS Scholarship program.
In Paras' case, he will no longer be needing the last two since he is assured of a four-year college scholarship with the UCLA starting next year.