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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --February 24, 1999
Contact: John Johnson or Mike Clifford-- 517.332.5046

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Feb. 24 -- The Michigan High School Athletic Association's Scholar-Athlete Award program has selected its seven scholarship recipients for the 1999 spring sports season.
Farm Bureau Insurance, in its 10th year of sponsoring the award, will give a $1,000 college scholarship to each of the seven spring 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 27. Commemorative plaques will be given to other finalists in recognition of their accomplishments.

The seven Scholar-Athlete Award honorees for the 1999 spring sports season are: Nelson Bowers, Jackson, baseball; Jennifer Susan Borowiec, Farmington Hills Mercy, girls golf; Leslie Ann Barnhart, West Branch Ogemaw Heights, girls soccer; Katie Lee McCune, St. Louis, softball; Aashish Shah, Brownstown Woodhaven, boys tennis; William John Farmer, Grosse Pointe North, boys track and field; and Meghan E. McNeilly, Clare, girls track and field.

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

Baseball -- Nelson Bowers, Jackson. All-conference performer as a sophomore and junior … selected to the all-district and all-area dream teams as a junior … voted football team captain as a senior … all-conference and all-area dream team selection in football as a senior … competed in wrestling for two years before an injury forced him out as a sophomore … elected president of student government as a senior … vice president of student government as a junior … active in student council and the Exchange Club … played in marching band as a freshman … member of National Honor Society … participated in Youth in Government all four years … named Mr. Viking and helped with the school can drive … will attend the University of Michigan to study engineering.

Essay Quote -- "Almost everybody knows what good sportsmanship involves, but over the years, sportsmanship has become a rare part of sports, as athletes choose not to be good sports. These athletes need to realize that sportsmanship is a very important component of athletics, especially educational athletics."

Girls Golf -- Jennifer Susan Borowiec, Farmington Hills Mercy. Girls golf team captain as a junior and senior … member of the varsity golf team for four years … twice an MHSAA finalist, placing seventh individually as a junior and eighth individually as a sophomore … selected all-state and all-metro area in 1997 and 1998 … all-county three times … twice won the Catholic High School League championship … member of National Honor Society and National Spanish Honor Society … active in Mercy Works throughout high school … 1998 all-Catholic Scholastic Team member … participates in Mercy Mime Troupe as a junior and senior … chemistry, science and math tutor … has 10 years of ballet, tap and jazz dance experience … volunteers with the Farmington Hills and South Lyon Pet-a-Pet … won the Mercy Community Action Program Service Award in 1996-97-98 … 1998 Golf Association of Michigan Girls Junior Amateur Champion … plans on attending Ohio State University to study dental hygiene/pre-dentistry.

Essay Quote -- "Sportsmanship adds music to the mechanics of mastering the game and sings the song of love for the game. It is an attitude whose lyrics echo in one's heart that the only way to play the game is with fairness, honesty and integrity, even if no one is watching."

Girls Soccer -- Leslie Ann Barnhart, West Branch Ogemaw Heights. Earned 10 varsity letters in three sports, girls soccer, girls basketball and girls volleyball … second-team all-conference in girls soccer as a junior … basketball team MVP and captain as a junior … student council president as a junior and secretary as a sophomore … four-year member of class council … class council president as a sophomore … member of National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) for three years … FCA vice president as a sophomore and junior … sings in the concert and chamber choirs … sang in the all-star choir as a senior … plays as a choir accompanist … named Homecoming Queen in 1998 … active in the Free Methodist Church youth group throughout high school … pianist at Free Methodist Church … named 1998 Miss Victorian West Branch … would like to study architecture at Lawrence Technical University.

Essay Quote -- "At the beginning of a season, every team usually has a meeting to promote good sportsmanship. However, it takes the personal commitment of each athlete to make good sportsmanship happen. Accountability also comes into play because each team member should expect the best conduct from teammates."

Softball -- Katie Lee McCune, St. Louis. Three-sport athlete at St. Louis High School … earned varsity letters in softball, girls basketball and track and field … selected Most Improved Softball Player as a junior and Most Dedicated Track Performer as a sophomore … elected class president all four years of high school … twice selected student of the month … member of FFA, serving as president the past three years … regional vice president of FFA … senior editor of school yearbook … active in National Honor Society … participates in Youth Advisory Council and Junior Holstein Association … Wendy's Junior Heisman local and state winner … plans to attend Michigan State University to study agriculture communications.

Essay Quote -- "The lessons of sportsmanship as it appears in friendships with teammates and rivals is the essence of high school athletics. The real victories do not come on the playing field, they come in the spirit of sportsmanship when memories and friendships are created that outlast any medals, trophies or titles."

Boys Tennis -- Aashish Shah, Brownstown Woodhaven. Boys tennis team captain … three-year member of varsity tennis squad … selected academic all-conference, all-area dream team and all-conference as a junior … named team MVP as a sophomore … MHSAA quarterfinalist as a sophomore … regional and conference champion as a sophomore … junior class president … four-year member of student council … earned 1996-97 Award of Excellence … participates in Science Olympiad, serving as captain in 1997 … National Honor Society president … volunteers in the ER/Nursing Unit at a local hospital … active in the Hindu Temple and Gujarati Samaj Scholarships … has not yet decided on a college but is considering the University of Michigan, Wayne State University and Kalamazoo College … plans on studying medicine.

Essay Quote -- "Sportsmanship requires appropriate behavior before, during and after any athletic event. An example of this is that players must abide by all rules and regulations and must play fair at all times. Athletes must stay calm and cool during their activities and proper respect must be given to all officials."

Boys Track and Field -- William John Farmer, Grosse Pointe North. Two-sport athlete, earning letters in track and field and cross country … member of MHSAA Lower Peninsula Cross Country Finals qualifying team as a junior and senior … selected captain of cross country team as a senior … active in student association, serving as treasurer as a senior … played in the band and orchestra for three years … member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) throughout high school … FCA vice president as a senior … clinic volunteer at Bon Secours Hospital … volunteers with Habitat for Humanity … worked with the Foundation for Exceptional Children as a junior and senior … would like to study pre-med at Duke University.

Essay Quote -- "Sportsmanship provides numerous essential lessons to carry you through life. You gain a better understanding of cooperation along with developing discipline, courtesy, grace in defeat and a striving spirit."

Girls Track and Field -- Meghan E. McNeilly, Clare. Team captain of girls track and field squad … Earned eight varsity letters in high school career … finished fourth in the 400-meter dash at the 1998 MHSAA finals in track and field … earned academic all-state, all-conference and all-state honors during four-year career … member of school record holding quartet in the 3,200-meter relay … active in National Honor Society and serves as the committee chairperson of the student council … drum major and section leader in the band … participates in Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) … member of 4-H for 11 years, serving as president and vice president at difference times … helps the environment through Adopt-A-Highway … will attend Purdue University to study engineering.

Essay Quote -- "Learning to win and lose graciously defines an individual who portrays good sportsmanship. Our educational system plays a major role in this development. Good sportsmanship in educational athletics is vital in creating a well-rounded person."

Other spring finalists by sport for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Baseball -- Jeremy Robert Gies, AuGres-Sims; Nathaniel A. Sowa, Marlette; Spencer Hynes, Clarkston; Kevin Messacar, Grosse Pointe South; Michael J. Petrauskas, Grandville; Joseph L. Miller, Bath. Girls Golf -- Chrystina Lynne Russell, Muskegon Mona Shores. Girls Soccer -- Adrienne A. Nassar, Sterling Heights; Carrie Peterson, Vicksburg. Softball -- Heidi Wickstrom, Bellaire; Sarah Elizabeth DiPonio, Morrice; Nicole Mukavetz, Highland Milford; Emily R. Williams, Redford Union; Jamie M. Rifenburgh, Bronson; Kathi Grotenhuis, Hamilton. Boys Tennis -- Milton E. Geiger, Croswell-Lexington; Jeffrey G. Lee, Bloomfield Hills Lahser; Chad Carlson, Holland. Boys Track & Field -- David J. Siik, Negaunee; Ryan D. Siemen, Harbor Beach; Douglas H. Anderson, New Baltimore Anchor Bay; Shaun Tahir Cheema, Dundee; Justin Olk, Kent City; Mark Joseph Pietka, Ludington. Girls Track & Field -- Tara Reddinger, Kingsford; Jody Ann Scheffler, Birch Run; Carol Evola, Pontiac Notre Dame; Christina Dzingle, Dearborn Divine Child; Rebecca Dugopolski, Grand Ledge; Kristen R. Podein, Rockford.

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 honorees were: Laura Winkel, Manistique, girls basketball; James Michael Shehadi, Sterling Heights, boys cross country; Melissa Renee Gritter, Elk Rapids, girls cross country; D'Juan O'Donald, Detroit Renaissance, football; John D. Sivey, Merrill, boys golf; Stosh Randall Mintek, Allegan, boys soccer; Katharine Sophiea, Ferndale, girls swimming & diving; and Bomy Hong, Jenison, girls tennis.

Winter honorees were: Joe Bagierek, Saugatuck, boys basketball; Megan Leigh Glazier, Merrill, girls competitive cheer; Lyndsey B. Vitek, St. Johns, girls gymnastics; Justin Barnes, Midland, ice hockey; Alexander Theodore Carroll, Roscommon, boys skiing; Jennifer R. Steele, Clare, girls skiing; Justin C. Bosley, Grosse Pointe South, boys swimming & diving; Erin A. Jury, Houghton Lake, girls volleyball; and Adam Baske, St. Joseph, wrestling.