L-R:  Mr. Steve Craddock, Senior Vice President of FOX Sports; senior Hannah Gentlesk; and eighth grader Bryson Byrnes, son of the late Mr. Steve Byrnes.

Congratulations to senior Hannah Gentlesk on receiving the first Steve Byrnes Memorial Broadcasting Award at the Charlotte Christian School Upper School Awards Ceremony held Wednesday, April 26.  Hannah was presented with a crystal trophy,  $1,500 scholarship, and will receive a paid internship with FS1, a cable sports network owned by FOX Sports.  Mr. Steve Craddock, senior vice president of FOX Sports, and CCS eighth grader Bryson Byrnes, son of the late Mr. Steve Byrnes, presented the inaugural award.    

Hannah, a Charlotte Christian lifer, is the daughter of Philip and Jennifer Gentlesk.  Following graduation from Charlotte Christian, she will be attending Furman University with plans to pursue a career in communications and sports broadcasting.  Hannah developed her passion for broadcasting as a two-year member of the Knights Knews Broadcasting Team at Charlotte Christian.   

The award is given in honor and memory of Mr. Steve Byrnes, a successful and highly respected national network sports broadcaster, who passed away from cancer on April 21, 2015, at the age of 56.  Byrnes’ career spanned more than three decades and encompassed roles as a play-by-play announcer, pit road reporter, sideline reporter and studio host covering NASCAR, the NFL and college football.  While Byrnes spent the latter part of his career with FOX Sports, he got his broadcasting start behind the camera as a producer in local television.  He particularly enjoyed the creative process involved in shooting, writing and editing, and passed that love on to those who followed in his footsteps. 

the late Mr. Steve Byrnes