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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --February 16, 2000
Contact: John Johnson or Andy Frushour-- 517.332.5046

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Feb. 16 - The Michigan High School Athletic Association's Scholar-Athlete Award program has selected its nine scholarship recipients for the 2000 winter sports season.

Farm Bureau Insurance, in its 11th year of sponsoring the award, will give a $1,000 college scholarship to each of the nine winter sport winners. Farm Bureau will present a total of 24 scholarships, one for each sport in which the MHSAA sponsors a postseason tournament.

Each of the scholarship recipients will be honored at halftime ceremonies of the Class C Boys Basketball final game at the Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing on March 25. Commemorative plaques will be given to other finalists in recognition of their accomplishments.

The nine Scholar-Athlete Award honorees for the 2000 winter sports season are: Seann Duffin, Carney-Nadeau, boys basketball; Jennifer Mosack, Armada, girls competitive cheer; Laura Barker, Menominee, girls gymnastics; Bryan R. Dery, Livonia Stevenson, ice hockey; Scott Bell, Rochester Adams, boys skiing; Martha Grant, Mt. Pleasant, girls skiing; Bradford Andrew Flora, St. Joseph, boys swimming & diving; Georgianna Golematis, Brownstown Woodhaven, girls volleyball; and Zachary Sine, Napoleon, wrestling.

Overviews of the nine scholarship recipients of the winter Scholar-Athlete Award follow. A quote from each recipient's essay is also included:

Boys Basketball -- Seann Duffin, Carney-Nadeau. Will earn eleven varsity letters: three in basketball, four in both cross country and track and field … all-conference in basketball … Upper Peninsula champion in high jump as a sophomore and junior, long jump champion as a junior … captained cross country and track teams for three years … finished first individually in the U.P. Class D run as junior and senior, and team won title in 1997, 1998 and 1999… served four years on Student Council; elected President as a senior and Vice-President as a junior … served as Alumni Scholarship Chairperson … elected President of National Honor Society as a junior and senior … participated in C-Club for four years, acting as President as a senior and Vice-President as a junior … yearbook Editor-in-Chief as a senior and Junior Editor as a junior … acted as Vice-President for the Marinette & Menominee Community Foundation Youth Advisory Council as junior and senior … received Distinguished Service Award for volunteer tutoring … also participated in the PACK Mentoring program as an upperclassman … will study biochemistry at Duke University.

Essay Quote -- "Often times, the traditionally revered features of honesty, fairness, and respect are lost in the shuffle of the rapidly changing world in which we live. Fortunately, there are still some who are refining the art of being a good sport, ensuring that these often overlooked facets of life do not fade as the twenty-first century approaches"

Girls Competitive Cheer -- Jennifer Mosack, Armada. Earned two varsity letters in competitive cheer and three in track and field … received Iron Man Award every year in track and field … selected to conference all-academic team … participated in Student Senate as a freshman and sophomore, including serving as Corresponding Secretary her sophomore year … elected class Treasurer as freshman and sophomore … participated in Concert, Marching, and Pep Bands all four years as well as competing in the district and state solo and ensemble festival every year … volunteered at the local Senior Center, Special Olympics Field Day, family fun nights and blood drives as a junior and senior … will study biology, medicine or psychology at Oakland University, Western Michigan University or Central Michigan University.

Essay Quote -- "Many people think of high school sports just as playing a game, winning or losing, but true sportsmen know better. The key to the game is the sportsmanship involved. This means playing with integrity and fairness, even if it's only an after school game with your friends."

Girls Gymnastics -- Laura Barker, Menominee. Upper Peninsula champion in all-around as a junior, runner-up as a freshman and sophomore … awarded four varsity letters in gymnastics and track and field and one in cross country … member of National Honor Society as an upperclassman and served as Treasurer as a senior … participated in Band, Pep Band and Marching Band as a freshman and sophomore … volunteered at the local animal shelter and Tri-Y … will study biology in college.

Essay Quote -- "I am a firm believer that good sportsmanship is the most important aspect of high school athletics today. Athletics provide a great opportunity for students to get involved, take their minds off worries, meet new people, have fun, and learn a little more about themselves and their lives as well."

Ice Hockey -- Bryan R. Dery, Livonia Stevenson. Earned two varsity letters in ice hockey and three in golf and track and field … member of Physics Club as a junior and senior … participated in canned food and clothing drives throughout high school, Hearts of Livonia for three years, and a craft show as a junior and senior … will attend the University of Michigan and study engineering.

Essay Quote -- "The most important reason why sportsmanship is a fundamental aspect of educational athletics is that it makes the game enjoyable to all the people around it. If there was only one reason to participate in athletics it would be to just have fun."

Boys Skiing -- Scott Bell, Rochester Adams. Member of 1999 MHSAA Division 1 Boys Soccer Championship team … three-year varsity letter winner in soccer and skiing .. received ski team spirit award … elected student council Vice-President senior … DECA state champion as a junior and senior … member of National Honor Society as a sophomore, junior and senior … competed in Piano Federation as a freshman … school student representative for trip to Belize … coached youth soccer team … will study business and accounting at Miami of Ohio.

Essay Quote -- "The lessons I have learned from competitive skiing and soccer include self-confidence, competitiveness, intensity, personal pride, risk taking, patience and humility. But the real lesson of sports is that winning is sweet and losing is bitter, but sportsmanship is the ultimate victory."

Girls Skiing -- Martha Grant, Mt. Pleasant. Awarded four varsity letters in both skiing and swimming and diving … all-conference selection in skiing three years … four-year school Scholar Athlete Award winner … three-year MISCA qualifier … member of National Honor Society … participated in service projects such as blood drives, tree planting for the Community Recreation Center, and directing parents at Parent-Teacher conferences … volunteered as assistant ski coach for junior race camps … drafted house plans for community members … will study chemical engineering, architectural engineering, or pre-veterinary medicine at Michigan Technological University, Michigan State University, Montana State University or the University of Utah.

Essay Quote -- "Lessons learned through sports competitions are of equal value at work and at home. School athletics offer me the opportunity to become not just a better athlete, but a better person."

Boys Swimming & Diving - Bradford Andrew Flora, St. Joseph. Four-year varsity swimmer … all-conference in swimming … team captain as a junior and senior … earned sportsmanship award as a junior … rowing team member during summer at Culver Military Academy for three years … elected class President all four years, National Honor Society Vice-President as a senior, and served as President and Treasurer during four year stint in French Club … also participated in Spanish Club for three years, played a lead role in school musical as a sophomore and took part in exchange program with a school in Shiga, Japan … serves as Editor-in-Chief of school paper … attended West Point Invitational Academic Camp and Journalism Camp at Indiana University … also involved in Sunday Music Club (Vice-President as a senior) and church Youth Group and volunteering on church clean-up weekends and with Habitat for Humanity … will attend Princeton University, University of Michigan or Northwestern University and study foreign relations/pre-law with emphasis on foreign business law.

Essay Quote -- "Think of all the professional athletes that whine about their incredible salaries or tough schedules. These people influence the youth of our nation, saying it's all right to complain, it's all right to talk trash, it's all right to fight during a game. Somewhere, students must be taught that such behavior isn't okay."

Girls Volleyball -- Georgianna Golematis, Brownstown Woodhaven. Awarded three varsity letters in volleyball and soccer … selected to conference all-academic team … elected President of student council … serves as Historian of National Honor Society chapter … participated all four years in senior citizen Card Party, hospital/nursing home visits, Leukemia, Cancer and Humane Society fundraising, blood drive for Red Cross … volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and Tree-Planting Ordinance in conjunction with chamber of commerce Youth Leadership 2000 … received Certificate of Achievement for Youth Leadership Program … will study computer engineering at the University of Michigan.

Essay Quote -- "Positive experiences produce positive results. A true competitor is one who employs genuine heart and desire, athletic talent and exceptional sportsmanship. This person will be the team role model and leader in every situation."

Wrestling -- Zachary Sine, Napoleon. Earned four varsity letters in wrestling … placed at MHSAA Lower Peninsula Individual Wrestling Finals and was conference champion as a junior … also awarded three varsity letters in track and field and two in football … captain of both wrestling and football teams … all-conference in football as a junior and senior … participated in student council for three years, elected Treasurer as a senior and also elected class Treasurer as a junior … member of National Honor Society … voted Homecoming King … participated in Peer Tutoring for three years, Student Leadership as a senior and Debate Team as a freshman … received Class Act Award from Jackson County Education Association, Greentree Honor Award from YMCA Storer Camps and Good Citizen Award from DAR … volunteered with the Christmas Giving Project all four years, Red Cross Blood Drive as a junior and senior and chamber of commerce fall event as a senior … plans on studying engineering at the University of Michigan.

Essay Quote -- "A strong characteristic that is taught in athletics is humility. As an athlete I have to be humble enough to admit a mistake and work with the coach to enhance my skills for the good of the team. I also have to hold back any reservations I have about a teammate to encourage them and help make them better."

Other winter finalists by sport for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Boys Basketball -- Joshua Bishop, Grosse Ile; Patrick Cahill, Warren DeLaSalle; Garnett Kohler, Brown City; Matt Mason, Spring Lake; Brian Pridgeon, Reading; Paul Wagner, Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills. Girls Competitive Cheer -- Bethany Fox, Pewamo-Westphalia. Girls Gymnastics -- Kate Longcore, Hartland. Ice Hockey -- Nick Kujala, Traverse City Central. Boys Skiing -- Peter Fisher, Maple City Glen Lake. Girls Skiing -- Tiffany Lynn McKee, Lake Orion. Boys Swimming & Diving -- Christopher A. Bixler, Erie-Mason; St Joseph;
James Pollock, Sterling Heights Stevenson. Girls Volleyball -- Alicia Blatch, Hazel Park; Katie Cramer, Frankenmuth; Suzanne Brown Malpass, East Jordan; Jennifer Pollard, Michigan Center; Mia Sokol, Flushing; Laura Vandenberg, Holton. Wrestling -- Rick Bolhuis, Jenison; Forrest Coté, North Branch;
Peter Mazzarese, Detroit Catholic Central; Tara Theisen, Merrill..

Students applying for the Scholar-Athlete Award must be carrying at least a 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) grade-point average, and have previously won a letter in a varsity sport in which the Michigan High School Athletic Association sponsors a postseason tournament. Other requirements for the applicants were to show active participation in other school and community activities and produce an essay on the importance of sportsmanship in educational athletics.

Spring sports scholarship recipients will be announced on Feb. 23. Fall honorees were: Lauren M. Bramos, Grosse Pointe North, girls basketball; Charles Stamboulian, North Farmington, boys cross country; Erin Maureen Randall, Clio, girls cross country; Rick Bolhuis, Jenison, football; Jeffrey Craig Melville, Jenison, boys golf; Brian Horr, North Farmington, boys soccer; Michelle C. Miller, Trenton, girls swimming & diving; Kathryn Berger, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, girls tennis.