Michigan High School Athletic Association - Promoting Educational Athletics
Michigan High School Athletic Association - Promoting Educational Athletics |
|
User Sections
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Feb. 15, 2005 Spring Scholarship Recipients Announced In EAST LANSING , Mich. - Feb. 15 - The Michigan High School Athletic Association's Scholar-Athlete Award program has selected its nine scholarship recipients for the 2005 spring sports season. Farm Bureau Insurance, in its 16th year of sponsoring the award, will give a $1,000 college scholarship to each of the nine spring sports winners. Farm Bureau will present a total of 28 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 19. Commemorative plaques will be given to other finalists in recognition of their accomplishments. The Scholar-Athlete Award honorees for the 2005 spring sports season are: Jason Allan Sosnowski, White Lake Lakeland, baseball; Megan Elizabeth Carter, Bloomfield Hills Lahser, girls golf; David W. Dindoffer, Grosse Pointe South, boys lacrosse; Lauren Gaer, Birmingham Marian, girls lacrosse; Kimberly Oberski, Port Huron, girls soccer; Emily Blair, Harper Woods Regina, softball; William Robert Lloyd, White Lake Lakeland, boys tennis; Jameson F. Lamie, Hart, boys track and field; and Lauren Bennett, Birmingham Marian, girls track and field. Overviews of the scholarship recipients of the spring Scholar-Athlete Award follow. A quote from each recipient's essay is also included:
Essay Quote - "Sportsmanship teaches responsibility. Taking responsibility for their actions is highly stressed in sportsmanship. It is imperative for student athletes to be prompt for practices and games. This promptness shows that a student athlete is ready to work and improve. It also proves that the athlete is dedicated to the game."
Essay Quote - "Having participated in competitive sports since I was five years old, I have learned over the years that nothing is more important in educational athletics than sportsmanship. As a young gymnast, I learned early on the importance of self-discipline, teamwork, respect for my coaches, and a strong work ethic."
Essay Quote - "Sportsmanship is a drive; a reason that makes an athlete train for the game and a student for the test. Just as honor and chivalry were essential to the knights of old, sportsmanship defines the noblest ideals of athletes today."
Essay Quote - "Integrity, concerning both sports and moral standards, is being fair and courteous to others, playing according to the rules, and acting honorably to others. Without this facet of sportsmanship, athletic events would be objectionable, unlikable events. Without integrity, players would cheat, officials could be unfair, and fans could be discourteous. The world of sports would be unpleasant. It is necessary to have sportsmanship."
Essay Quote - "The key to accepting a loss and moving on is realizing that just because the game was lost, it does not mean the game was not a success. Losing a game is an opportunity to improve and work on weakness so both the individual and the team can improve. Learning how to be a good sport and accept losing as an opportunity to succeed instead of a failure is another important lesson an athlete can take with them into life."
Essay Quote - "The presence of sportsmanship betters an athletic environment by allowing it to be dually educational in these ways: through the teaching of discipline and cooperation and through its applications later in life. By incorporating such vital lessons of discipline, self-control, respect and cooperation into athletics a path toward success is paved because these imperative factors have the potential to be applied to many and major life decisions."
Essay Quote - " In the end, after the games have been played, and the season has ended, no one will remember how many points or goals someone scored, whether or not the game was won or lost, all someone will remember is how the game was played."
Essay Quote - "Another great benefit of sportsmanship is that's it's contagious. If someone shows respect to an opponent, that opponent is more likely to show respect to him. Teammates see this action and follow the lead. When sportsmanship is displayed, even the fans feel better."
Essay Quote - "Sportsmanship is difficult to define, yet its absence is very easy to detect. A cheap shot from a rival athlete or a continuous heckle from a disgruntled fan may not directly affect the scoreboard, but each person involved leaves the competition with a sour taste in his or her mouth. Therefore, the important mission of continuing honorable and responsible athletic behavior lies with the individual. When an athlete demonstrates respect for the abilities of his or her competitor, regardless of the score, he or she is demonstrating a necessary element of sportsmanship."
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. Fall award recipients were: Christina Ashley Maertens, Birmingham Seaholm, girls basketball; Jason Victor Hawley, Temperance Bedford, boys cross country; Kelly Nicole Sampson, Detroit Renaissance, girls cross country; Steve Short, Kingsford, football; Ross Osgood, Delton Kellogg, boys golf; Mark Weber, Grand Rapids Catholic Central, boys soccer; Emily Weslosky, Troy Athens, girls swimming & diving; Jenny Armstrong, Harbor Springs, girls tennis. Winter scholarship recipients were: Nikolas Burkhart, Pellston, boys basketball; Philip J. McDonald, Saginaw Heritage, boys bowling; Grace H. Williams, Sandusky, girls bowling; Amanda Louise Winn, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, girls competitive cheer; Calie E. Thompson, Trenton, girls gymnastics; Kris Young, Ann Arbor Pioneer, ice hockey; Brady Donnelly, Harbor Springs, boys skiing; Sarah Conkle, Bellaire, girls skiing; C.J. Holmes, Alma, boys swimming and diving; Stephanie Booms, Marysville, girls volleyball; and Ben Wales, Otsego, wrestling. Farm Bureau Insurance, one of Michigan 's major insurers, has a statewide force of 350 agents serving more than 380,000 Michigan policyholders. Besides providing life, home auto, farm, business and retirement insurance, the company also sponsors lifesaving, real-time Doppler weather tracking systems in several Michigan communities. The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by over 1,500 public and private senior high schools and junior high/middle schools which exists to develop common rules for athletic eligibility and competition. No government funds or tax dollars support the MHSAA, which was the first such association nationally to not accept membership dues or tournament entry fees from schools. Member schools which enforce these rules are permitted to participate in MHSAA tournaments, which attract approximately 1.6 million spectators each year. MEDIA ADVISORY -- A complete list of scholarship nominees and finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award can be found by clicking on the Recognition link on the home page of the MHSAA Web Site, and then clicking on Scholar-Athlete Award. Information about scholarship recipients will be posted on the MHSAA Web Site according to the schedule listed in this release, and media in the markets of the scholarship recipients will be notified by fax the day before the public announcement. For more information about Farm Bureau Insurance, contact Luke Schafer, Public Relations Manager, at 517.323.7000. You can download the MHSAA's Scholar-Athlete Award logo from the MHSAA Web Site - click on Forms & Graphics off the home page. -0- RL05-047 Farm Bureau Insurance and MEEMIC Insurance are year-round MHSAA Corporate Partners |
Baseball - Jason Allan Sosnowski, White Lake Lakeland . Earned three varsity letters in cross country, two in baseball and one in basketball.MHSBCA academic all-district for baseball in 2004.captain of the freshman, junior varsity and varsity baseball teams.Kensington Valley Conference all-league academic freshman year.All-Kensington Valley Conference honorable mention 2003.Most Improved Runner 2002 and Most Inspirational Runner 2003 in cross country.named best defensive player in basketball 2002.captain of the freshmen and junior varsity basketball teams.member National Honor Society senior year.participant in Student Council, Toys for Tots and a student mentoring program for four years.Board of Education Award Finalist 2002-2004.volunteer at Foster Care Children's Program four years.volunteer coach for youth leagues four years.currently undecided on choice of school, but plans to study kinesiology or education. 
Girls Golf - Megan Elizabeth Carter, Bloomfield Hills Lahser. Lettered four times in varsity tennis and volleyball and three in golf.captain of varsity golf, tennis and volleyball teams.MVP of volleyball two years and golf three years.all-league, all-area in golf, tennis and volleyball and all-region in golf and tennis.2002 and 2003 MHSAA Regional Individual Champion in golf.competed five years in the Powerbilt Junior Golf Tour and four years in the Michigan Junior Amateur Tournament.member of National Honor Society senior year.achieved principal's Honor Roll four years.Student Council President freshman year.tutored Lahser students weekly for two years.volunteered at the Christ Church Cranbrook and Lighthouse for four years.will attend Lafayette College to study sports medicine. 
Boys Lacrosse - David W. Dindoffer, Grosse Pointe South . Awarded two varsity letters in lacrosse and one in soccer.school and Macomb Area Conference scholar-athlete.member National Honor Society junior and senior year.Michigan Mathematics Prize Competition Finalist senior year.advanced to state tournament for the district medal in Business and Marketing State Competition junior and senior year.participated in Safe Rides two years.member and Patrol Leader for Boy Scouts of America, Troop 86, since 1998.earned of Eagle Scout rank in 2003.participated in Michigan Technological University summer youth leadership program.currently undecided on choice of college.plans to study pre-med or bio-medical engineering. 
Girls Lacrosse - Lauren Gaer, Birmingham Marian. Earned three varsity letters in lacrosse and field hockey. Academic All-American in lacrosse junior year.captain of the lacrosse team senior year.all-state honorable mention junior year in field hockey.captain of the field hockey team senior year.member Michigan Math League and Student Government class officer four years.2003 HOBY/MY lead school representative one year.member National Honor Society three years.assistant coach for girls middle school volleyball team one year.volunteer AIDS Timewarp Benefit three years.will attend Columbia University to study economics. 
Girls Soccer - Kimberly Oberski, Port Huron . Awarded three varsity letters in soccer and basketball.all-state honorable mention in soccer 2004.Port Huron Times-Herald Player of the Year in soccer.captain of the soccer team 2004 and 2005.Times Herald all-area first team in soccer 2002, 2003 and 2004.captain of the basketball team 2001 and 2004.2004 all-state academic, all-district and all-region in soccer.member National Honor Society, Captain's Club and concert band two years.earned 1 rating at district solo and ensemble in 2002 and 2 rating at state solo and ensemble 2002.Secretary of National Honor Society and Captain's Club 2004.hospital volunteer four years and volunteer for AYSO soccer three years.sixth grade girls basketball coach three years.will attend Michigan State University to study pre-medicine. 
Softball - Emily Blair, Harper Woods Regina . Earned three varsity letters in ice hockey and two in softball and basketball.member of MHSAA Division 1championship softball team 2004.member Catholic High School League all-academic basketball team 2004.junior varsity and varsity basketball team captain 2002 and 2004.ice hockey scholar athlete 2002.varsity team captain 2004-2005 and assistant ice hockey captain 2003-2004.member, class representative and committee chairperson of Student Council three years.National Honor Society member three years and Foreign Club two years.member Girls Scouts two years.participant in Race for the Cure and Multiple Sclerosis Walk three years.earned Silver Award in Girl Scouts ecology education program in 2003.plans to attend either the College of William and Mary or University for Rhode Island to study marine biology. 
Boys Tennis - William Robert Lloyd, White Lake Lakeland . Lettered four times in tennis, three times in golf and twice in basketball.captain of the golf and tennis team two years.MVP of tennis two years.named academic all-state team member in golf.Rookie of the Year in golf and tennis.earned the Coach's Award.second and fourth in state team for Future Problem Solvers and semifinalist in scenario writing .Secretary of National Honor Society junior and senior year.member of the Key Club three years and Astronomy Club two years.volunteered two years in Elderly Fashion Show, Christmas in April and Kuddles 4 Kids...will attend the University of Michigan to study engineering. 
Boys Track and Field - Jameson F. Lamie, Hart. Awarded four varsity letters in wrestling and three in football and track and field.all-conference honorable mention in 110-meter hurdles and 300-meter intermediate hurdles sophomore year.captain of the track and field team two years.earned second team all-conference in both hurdling events junior year.point scorer runner-up sophomore year.point leader junior year.MVP in track and field junior year.all-area in hurdles junior year.member National Honor Society three years and Quiz Bowl four years.Student Council Representative sophomore year and Student Council President senior year.captain of Quiz Bowl junior and senior year.earned DAR Good Citizen Award.volunteer at Bread of Life Food Pantry two years.Relay for Life participant one year and Crop Walk to stop Hunger two years.will attend the U.S. Air Force Academy to study political science. 
Girls Track and Field -- Lauren Bennett, Birmingham Marian. Lettered twice in track and field and once in cross country.all-league track and field.captain of the cross country team.member academic all-state cross country team.President Student Government Class 2005 four years.member National Honor Society and English Literary Society three years.National Merit Scholar.earned Service and Leadership Awards from Marian.Michigan Math Competition finalist.earned Birmingham/Bloomfield Optimist Award.Springhill Camp volunteer two years.will attend University of Michigan to study pre-medicine.