Brains and brawn begat the best
By Michael Orr

Lee Deneen

Bilingual, world traveler, excellent student, great guy, wide receiver. As a starting wideout on the A. C. Flora Falcons football team and a nationally recognized French student, Lee Deneen is as well- spoken and smart a high school student as any. "Lee is a great kid, one of the best you'll talk to," says his coach, Robin Bacon.

How does a 17- year- old become fluent in a foreign language while keeping up with other schoolwork and varsity athletics? Deneen's family moved to France when Lee was 10 and apart from short- term tutoring just before moving, he entered the country with very little knowledge of the language. Immediately faced with the decision to continue speaking English whenever possible or completely throw himself into the French language and culture.

Deneen chose the latter. "I had other friends who spoke English at home and with each other, but I was committed to speaking it [French] all the time. I would set a goal of learning 20 words per week and just wanted to learn," Deneen said.

Deneen placed highest in his classes in school. Rather than taking part in the English- first classes, Deneen entered the native- speaking classes and achieved great success. He also had the opportunity to do a good deal of traveling throughout Europe and Africa based on his father's work with former Governor Beasley in developmental initiatives. With visits to Tunisia, South Africa, and even Yemen, and extensive travel in Europe, Deneen has had a great many experiences.

Upon returning stateside, Deneen's success has continued both in school and on the field. "Lee's super smart but more importantly a great kid who has been a super player for us," said Coach Bacon. The work ethic learned in the classroom has served Deneen well in football as well.

"Learning another language has helped me set new goals and always persevering," Deneen says of the benefits of conquering the challenge of learning French and applying it to his athletic career.

Monsieur Lee, as he is known in his French classes, "is a great young man and an exceptional student" according to French teacher Deborah Blanpied who has been his teacher each year in high school. Last year, Deneen placed third nationally in the near- native category, including first in South Carolina. He is also working to become trilingual, having taken three years of Spanish.

While learning other languages has been a focus of his schooling to this point, Deneen does not plan on majoring in French in college. He would like to be a business major and use French as a minor field, aiding in his long- term aspirations in international business. With several schools in his crosshairs, Clemson, UNC, and UVA are among Deneen's top interests as each has a strong business school.

Under Friday night lights and in his shoulder pads, helmet, and number 84 Falcons jersey, Deneen looks much like any other high school football player. But underneath is a developed, well- traveled, and eloquent young man.