Rhys Cooper Recognized as April CalHOPE Courage Award Winner

Two California collegiate student-athletes - Destiny Adams, a multi-sport athlete at San Joaquin Delta College, and Rhys Cooper, a Butte College football player - have been selected as the April 2026 recipients of the CalHOPE Courage Award.

Presented monthly since February 2022, the CalHOPE Courage Award honors student-athletes at California colleges and universities who have overcome stress, anxiety, and mental trauma associated with personal hardships and adversity. Each honoree is also recognized with a donation made on their behalf to support mental health services.

A closer look at Rhys's inspiring personal story

Midway through his freshman season in 2023, Rhys began experiencing serious health issues. On the morning of the Roadrunners' final game of the season, he was rushed to the emergency room. After weeks of testing, he was diagnosed with T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma.

The diagnosis marked the beginning of an intense and uncertain battle for Rhys, not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. Facing months of grueling treatments, Rhys had to confront fear, isolation, and the mental toll that comes with fighting cancer. Through it all, he approached recovery with the same determination he brought to the field, relying on faith, positivity, and the support of his teammates, friends, and family.

Despite ongoing treatments, Rhys returned for summer workouts in 2024 and worked relentlessly to rebuild his strength. His perseverance through fatigue, doubt, and adversity became a source of inspiration for his teammates. He also emerged as a leader, guiding weekly team Bible studies and helping foster a strong sense of unity.

Rhys returned to the field and played a key role in the team's success over the next three years as the starting fullback, contributing to 27 wins, two bowl game victories, and a playoff appearance. Now cancer-free, his journey reflects not only survival but also the courage to keep moving forward.

"I learned that you can't control everything that happens to you, but you can control how you respond," said Rhys. "There were tough days mentally and physically, but I leaned on my faith, my teammates, and my family. That's what kept me going and got me through it all."

About the CalHOPE Courage Award

The monthly CalHOPE Courage Award is presented by the College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA), in association with The Associated Press; CalHOPE, a Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) crisis counseling and support resource; and the Governor's Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being.

"CalHOPE is honored to continue recognizing student-athletes statewide who have overcome challenges to perform their best as both scholars and athletes," said Autumn Boylan, Deputy Director of the Office of Strategic Partnerships at DHCS, which oversees CalHOPE. "CalHOPE's purpose is to build community resilience and help people recover from disasters and public health emergencies through free outreach, crisis counseling, and support services. We hope that by sharing these stories of courage, all will be inspired."

The stories of CalHOPE Courage Award recipients reflect the spirit of Governor Newsom's Path and Purposes Executive Order, which calls for a statewide response to improve mental health outcomes, reduce stigma, and reconnect young people, especially men and boys, with education, work, and mentorship opportunities.

Sports information directors at all colleges and universities in California are encouraged to nominate deserving student-athletes at CalHOPECourageAward.org. Honorees are selected by a panel of writers and editors from The Associated Press and College Sports Communicators.

Stories about all CalHOPE Courage Award honorees are available at CalHOPECourageAward.org and @CalHOPE_Courage on social media.

ABOUT CalHOPE

CalHOPE is a multi-level campaign run by DHCS to connect Californians with mental health and wellness resources during times of crisis. CalHOPE offers behavioral health crisis counseling and uses a public health approach centered on strength-based strategies that build resilience. CalHOPE partners with the California Governor's Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being to promote the CalHOPE Courage Award. Resources are available at calhope.org/ or via the warm line at 833-317-HOPE (4673).

College Sports Communicators (CSC): CSC is the premier association for strategic, creative, and digital professionals working in intercollegiate athletics across the United States and Canada. CSC provides year-round leadership, community, professional development/education, recognition and advocacy for its 4,700 members. To learn more, visit CollegeSportsCommunicators.com

The Associated Press (AP): The AP is the essential global news network, delivering fast, unbiased news worldwide since 1846. For more information, visit ap.org.

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