
Scholars & Athletes 2019: Class A
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 18, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The Michigan High School Athletic Association has selected 13 student-athletes from Class A member schools to receive scholarships through the MHSAA/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Award program.
Farm Bureau Insurance, in its 30th year of sponsoring the award, will give $1,000 college scholarships to 32 individuals who represent their member schools in at least one sport in which the Association sponsors a postseason tournament. The first 30 scholarships are awarded proportionately by school classification and the number of student-athletes involved in those classes; also, there are two at-large honorees who can come from any classification.
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.
Each of the scholarship recipients will be honored at a halftime ceremony during the Class C Boys Basketball Final, March 16, at the Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing. Commemorative medallions will be given to the finalists in recognition of their accomplishments.
The Class A Scholar-Athlete Award honorees are: Alma Cooper, Okemos; Alexa Easter, Ann Arbor Pioneer; Chloe Idoni, Fenton; Adele Kemp, Greenville; Jade Turner, Traverse City Central; Audrey Whiteside, East Grand Rapids; David DeBacker, Detroit Catholic Central; Matthew George, Novi; Trey Mullins, Novi; Nolan Rich, St. Joseph; Avery Robinson III, Wyoming; Edward Roe, Traverse City Central; and Michael Song, Troy.
Overviews of the scholarship recipients of the Class A Scholar-Athlete Award follow. A quote from each recipient's essay also is included:
Alma Cooper, Okemos
Playing third season of varsity basketball and played three of varsity volleyball and will run her fourth of track & field this spring. Earned all-league recognition this fall for volleyball and has helped volleyball and basketball teams to District titles and track team to a league championship. Also earned all-conference in track and all-conference all-academic in all three sports. Served as volleyball team captain as a senior and team manager as a sophomore while missing season with an injury. Serving as student body representative at district’s school board meetings and participating in second year of National Honor Society. Serving as clothing drive director for nonprofit supporting victims of human trafficking and was named finalist for community’s “Pass it Forward” award. Finished runner-up for 2017 Miss Michigan Teen USA. Participated in choir/drama for two years, earning all-state honors for choir and singing in Europe for six weeks with Blue Lakes International Choir. Participates in school’s United in Social Progress club and selected to speak at teen girls conference. Selected to attend West Point’s elite leadership seminar; will attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and study life science.
Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship in educational athletics teaches young men and women how to celebrate others’ successes and learn from the lessons brought through losses. High school volleyball has allowed me to grow not only as a player but as an individual, respecting others in times of defeat and looking past unimaginable past conflicts to uphold my poise and grace.”
Alexa Easter, Ann Arbor Pioneer
Ran three seasons of varsity cross country and will run her fourth of track & field this spring. Earned all-state honors in track and helped team to Lower Peninsula Division 1 championship in 2017. Also earned all-state academic honors. Served as cross country co-captain this past fall. Earned AP Scholar Award. Participating in third year of National Honor Society and fourth of student council, serving the latter as part of the philanthropy committee. Served as Link Crew leader and participated in multiple volunteer projects. Co-founded PiHi Engineering Club and served as board member and director of community outreach for WSTEM Club. Earned National Certificate of Distinction from National Center for Women in Information and Technology and received bronze medal in national French contest. Gave talk at Ann Arbor TEDxYouth event. Will attend Barnard College of Columbia University, but remains undecided on what she will study.
Essay Quote: “The moral question was larger than the possibility of a win. How would I feel had I won by playing dirty? What is a victory if it is obtained unfairly? My experience with educational athletics has trained me to see that, even in a high stakes situation in which triumph is just within reach, a win is never worth compromising my values.”
Chloe Idoni, Fenton
Playing fourth season of varsity basketball and played four of varsity volleyball. Also played varsity soccer as a junior and participated in varsity track & field as a sophomore. Earned all-state recognition in volleyball and basketball and all-league honors all four year of volleyball and first three of basketball, senior season pending. Served as team captain of both teams. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and carries a 3.9 grade-point average. Participating in fourth year of school’s captains club and serving second as part of MHSAA’s Student Advisory Council. Named all-state academic scholar and has participated in a number of volunteer projects including with Salvation Army, Special Olympics and Wreaths Across America. Will attend Ferris State University and study business.
Essay Quote: “In fact, many people do not even realize they are demonstrating good sportsmanship when they do it. Good sportsmanship is not just the conscience acts like telling a player they had a great game or reaching your hand out to help the opponent up, but it is as simple as three values; patience, humility, and respect. These values are not commonly associated with sportsmanship, but will teach you the values you will use for the rest of your life.”
Adele Kemp, Greenville
Playing fourth season of varsity basketball, ran four of varsity cross country and will participate in fourth of track & field this spring. Earned all-state recognition in basketball and made all-league first team her first three seasons with fourth pending; also earned academic all-state. Served as captain of all three teams multiple seasons. Serving fourth year as class president and participating in fourth year of National Honor Society. Earned recognition for carrying grade-point average above 3.9 through first three years of high school. Earned first place in state DECA competition and placed top 50 in international competition. Served on Greenville Area Youth Advisory Council and currently as Greenville Education Foundation representative. Volunteers in multiple efforts including as youth sports official. Will attend Northwood University and study entertainment, sport & promotion management.
Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship, to me, goes hand-in-hand with signing up for the sport. I fell after finishing a race in track and a girl helped me up. It turned my mood from upset and embarrassed to comforted; everyone should feel that way. During basketball games, every time a player hits the floor around me, I believe that even though we are playing against each other, we are still trying to do our best and achieve similar goals. It is important to extend a helping hand.”
Jade Turner, Traverse City Central
Participated in three seasons of varsity swimming & diving and three of varsity track & field. Qualified for MHSAA Finals in diving three years and reached championship round as senior in the fall. Served as co-captain of swimming & diving team. Earned AP Scholar with Distinction. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and as secretary, and fourth year studying in school district’s enhanced science, math and technology program. Playing fourth year in orchestra and serving as co-president; earned placement as first-chair violist and advanced to state level as part of quartet and philharmonic orchestra. Participated two years with Academic WorldQuest team, earning fifth-place regional finish. Will attend University of Michigan and study business and history.
Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship in educational athletics has taught me how to make personal connections wherever I go. Not only has this been important in everyday communications, but it will also help me in my professional career. As I move on to college, I plan on studying and finding a career in business, where making connections is vital to success. My athletic career in high school may have been brief, but the impact that sportsmanship has had on me will last a lifetime.”
Audrey Whiteside, East Grand Rapids
Ran four seasons of varsity cross country and will play her fourth of varsity lacrosse this spring. Ran with her team at four MHSAA Cross Country Finals and helped EGR win Lower Peninsula Division 2 championship in the fall, serving as team captain and earning all-state and all-state academic honors. Helped lacrosse team to reach at least Semifinals all three seasons and win the 2016 Division 2 championship, earning all-state honors multiple seasons and serving as captain and earning all-state academic as a junior. Serving as senior class treasurer, yearbook editor-in-chief and president of yoga club, and started and co-owns local youth lacrosse academy that enrolled 30 athletes its first year. Selected to attend West Michigan Sports Leadership Conference and Jostens Renaissance Leadership Workshop. Will attend Central Michigan University and study nutrition and sports marketing.
Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship is an innate virtue of a true leader. They do not have to talk about it or expect to receive accolades for their actions. Sportsmanship is the humble, unexpected acts that are done every day to make lives better. It doesn’t matter where it happens; it can be in the classroom or on the playing field. Sportsmanship is that intangible asset that stays with you forever.”
David DeBacker, Detroit Catholic Central
Dove four seasons with the swimming & diving team, winning league championships and qualifying for MHSAA Finals his first three seasons (with fourth pending) and earning all-state all three seasons. Also served as team captain. Named National Merit Scholarship finalist and participating in second year of National Honor Society. Participating in fourth year on school’s academic team and earned Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for achievement. Selected for Boy Scouts Order of the Arrow, completed Eagle Scout project and served as senior patrol leader. Participating in fourth years of Shamrock Voice debate program and Art Club and served as president of latter for two years. Will attend University of Notre Dame and study architecture.
Essay Quote: “In regards to bad sports, it takes one to know one. Admittedly, I was that kid in gym class who treated every day like it was the Olympics. Looking back on my time in elementary school, I realize how much of a nuisance I was to those around me. Bad sportsmanship brings everyone down. I am ashamed of how I acted in the past, and I use those experiences and memories as a model of how to not behave. As I grew in maturity, I’ve thankfully realized the error of my ways, committing myself to honesty, respect, and courtesy in athletics.”
Matthew George, Novi
Played two seasons of varsity football and is competing in his fourth of varsity wrestling. Earned multiple all-league and all-District awards for wrestling and was football team’s leading tackler as a senior. Served as captain multiple seasons of wrestling and as football captain for varsity and both subvarsity teams during his four seasons in the sport. Earned Boy Scouts rank of Eagle Scout and served as troop’s senior patrol leader. Participating in a variety of volunteer projects including through church, The Greening of Detroit and Miracle Softball League assisting children with disabilities. Participated in theater as a senior and robotics as a freshman. Will attend University of Michigan and study electrical engineering.
Essay Quote: “When I think of sportsmanship, I think of how a person chooses to react to a situation. When some think of sportsmanship they often refer to how someone treats their opponent. This is an accurate definition, but it’s too narrow. I have come to realize good sportsmanship really starts from within your own team. If you can't treat your teammates positively, you will never do so with your opponents. … Once you embrace positivity there is no longer room for the negative – these are the kind of teams that have good sportsmanship.”
Trey Mullins, Novi
Ran four seasons of varsity cross country and will participate in fourth of track & field this spring. Served as captain for both teams and earned all-conference, academic all-conference and academic all-state honors for cross country, helping team to high of fourth-place finish at 2016 Lower Peninsula Division 1 Final. Also participates in Novi Unified Sports basketball program mentoring special needs classmates. Serving fourth year on student council, this school year as secretary, and participating in third year of National Honor Society this year as vice president. Also serving as Spanish Club president and fundraising chair for Health Occupations Students of America chapter, earning regional and state recognition for his achievements in the latter. Competes in Mock Trial and as part of school’s Forensic Science team, and named Distinguished Scholar at National Youth Leadership Forum: Law & CSI. Participates in church youth group and various volunteer efforts. Will attend University of Dayton and study accounting.
Essay Quote: “Over the course of our (Unified) season there began a trend when we played other teams in the league: sportsmanship. No matter the intensity or the score of a game, players would give the ball back to one another to shoot if they missed many times. It was obvious to most that we were playing for more than just a game.”
Nolan Rich, St. Joseph
Ran four seasons of varsity cross country, participated in two of varsity track & field and one of varsity swimming & diving. Earned all-conference honors in track and academic all-state in both cross country and swimming & diving. Helped cross country team to MHSAA Finals in 2016 and served as team captain this past fall. Named National Merit Commended Scholar and has advanced to second round of Michigan Math League test. Serving as class vice president and part of student senate, and participating in second year of National Honor Society. Participating in fourth year of Model United Nations – this year as president – and competed at American Chemical Society US National Chemistry Olympiad. Playing fourth year of marching and concert band, serving as drum major this year. Earned Boy Scouts Star rank. Will attend University of Michigan and study chemical engineering.
Essay Quote: “During the race, the people wearing different colors than me are a target, a goal to pass. But after crossing the finish line, I find that the connection I’ve formed with the guys next to me is not found anywhere else. No matter what jersey someone is wearing, we all push up the same hills, slosh through the same mud, and love the same sport.”
Avery Robinson III, Wyoming
Played three seasons of varsity tennis and will play third of varsity golf and participate in fourth of track & field this spring; also played two seasons of subvarsity basketball. Earned all-conference and served as team captain in tennis. Received AP Scholar Award. Participating in second year of National Honor Society, this year as president, and also is an officer in school’s Key Club. Playing fourth year in marching and jazz bands; received 1st division rating at district jazz festival all four years of high school and served as marching band drum major this year. Participated in two years of Science Olympiad, earning multiple regional placings. Participating in second year of Alpha Initiative Leadership Group and first of Business Professionals of America. Will attend University of Michigan and study social sciences or pre-law.
Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship is not only a way to respect others, it teaches you how to hold yourself accountable for your actions. Sportsmanship is a way of life. Being a good sport when you win helps develop humility, and being a good sport when you lose develops respect. Sportsmanship goes beyond sports. ... It teaches the youth how to carry themselves and maintain outstanding character that will lead them to success in every aspect of their life.”
Edward Roe, Traverse City Central
Participating in fourth season of varsity skiing, ran three of varsity cross country and will take part in fourth of track & field this spring; also mountain bikes competitively. Helped cross country team to MHSAA Finals this past fall and served as team’s co-captain. Won 2018 Michigan Cup junior men ski championship. Named National Merit Scholar semifinalist, and Michigan Mathematics Prize finalist three times. Participating in third year of National Honor Society. Playing fourth year in marching, jazz and concert bands and earned top ratings in state solo and ensemble competition. Earned Boy Scout’s designation of Eagle Scout and selected to Order of the Arrow. Served as president of ATLAS Space Explorers chapter and serving as co-president of Students for Environmental Activism club. Will attend Cornell University and study physics and mathematics.
Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship between teammates builds confidence and a will to win, fueling healthy competition and driving athletes to push the limits of what they can do in the face of pain and fatigue. When students find out that they have a greater athletic potential than they ever realized and develop the habit of giving their best effort every day for their sports teams, they are also building the mentality necessary to be a successful student, employee, and citizen.”
Michael Song, Troy
Played four years of varsity tennis and will participate in second of varsity track & field this spring. Received first or second-team all-state tennis honors the last three seasons and helped team to top-five Finals finishes all four years. Served as team captain. Named AP Scholar and National Merit Commended student. Earned semifinalist award finishing among top 10 percent on U.S. Biology Olympiad exam, and qualified for national Chemistry Olympiad exam. Earned DECA state championship and qualified for international competition, and also made state finals for Health Occupations Students of America competition. Participating in second year of National Honor Society. Serving fourth year as school representative for Council of Asian Pacific Americans. Played solo piano performance at Carnegie Hall in New York. Will attend University of Michigan and study business and finance.
Essay Quote: “In seasons where underlying hatred abounded, I dropped splashes of change each time I entered the court. Small talk and passing compliments during matches eased tensions, breaking down the barriers between teams. Often times, I came out of matches happy – regardless of a win or loss – to have a new friend off the court. Moments like these have ingrained into my memory and make me thankful for the dedication I've put into tennis.”
Other Class A girls finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were Anna Scott, Ann Arbor Huron; EmJ Rennich, Ann Arbor Pioneer; McKenna Evans, Battle Creek Lakeview; Ariella Cuellar, Bay City Central; Emily Moriartey, Davison; Ellie Timmons, Davison; Lexi Loehfelm, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern; Addison Irish, Hudsonville; Maya Albright, Midland; Mariella Simoncini, Northville; Claire Wan, Northville; Yveloute Rea, Petoskey; Elizabeth Bulat, Rochester; Megan Corbe, St. Joseph; Cailey Rooker, St. Joseph; Madeline Purvis, Troy Athens; Madeline Rehm, White Lake Lakeland; and Megan Morehouse, Zeeland East.
Other Class A boys finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Colin Czajkowski, Brownstown Woodhaven; Joseph Hardenbergh, Detroit Catholic Central; Keegan Koehler, Detroit Catholic Central; Ryan Marra, Detroit Catholic Central; Jack Killian, Fenton; Noah Stout, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central; Ryan Downey, Grosse Pointe South; Michael Willard, Grosse Pointe South; Samuel Martens, Holland; Carson Currie, Lapeer; Noah Kinnucan, Muskegon Mona Shores; Daniel McLaughlin, Northville; Carson Krumm, Okemos; Harrison Poeszat, Orchard Lake St. Mary's; Parker Raymond, Rochester Adams; John Tisch, Utica; and Trent Farquhar, White Lake Lakeland.
The Class C and Class D scholarship award recipients were announced Feb. 5, and the Class B honorees were announced Feb. 12.
Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan was founded in 1949 by Michigan farmers who wanted an insurance company that worked as hard as they did. Those values still guide the company today and are a big reason why it is known as Michigan’s Insurance Company, dedicated to protecting the farms, families, and businesses of this great state. Farm Bureau Insurance agents across Michigan provide a full range of insurance services—life, home, auto, farm, business, retirement, Lake Estate®, and more—protecting nearly 500,000 Michigan policyholders.
The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by more than 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 more than 1.4 million spectators each year.
-0-

2025 Scholar-Athlete Award Recipients Announced in Class B
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 11, 2025
The Michigan High School Athletic Association has selected nine student-athletes from Class B member schools to receive scholarships through the MHSAA/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Award program.
Farm Bureau Insurance, in its 36th year of sponsoring the award, will give $2,000 college scholarships to 32 individuals who represent their member schools in at least one sport in which the Association sponsors a postseason tournament. The first 30 scholarships are awarded proportionately by school classification and the number of student-athletes involved in those classes; also, there are two at-large honorees who can come from any classification.
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.
The 32 scholarship recipients will be recognized March 15 during the MHSAA Boys Basketball Finals at the Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing.
The Class B Scholar-Athlete Award honorees are Madelynn Kreider, Kingsford; Hannah Lee, Ann Arbor Greenhills; Grace McDowell, Whitehall; Addison Seemann, Freeland; Eleana Zhuang, Ann Arbor Greenhills; Oliver Costello, Haslett; Ryan Goodrich, Whitehall; Brayden Bryan Lape, Grass Lake; and Alan Mrva, Corunna.
Overviews of the scholarship recipients of the Class B Scholar-Athlete Award follow. A quote from each recipient's essay also is included:
Madelynn Kreider, Kingsford
Played four years of varsity volleyball and will compete in her third of track & field this spring; also played varsity basketball and softball as a freshman. Earned all-state honors her final two seasons of volleyball including making the Division 2 first team this past fall, and served as team captain her final two years. Ran on two Finals-placing track relays and also served as captain for that team. Ranked first in her graduating class academically and participating in second year of National Honor Society. Serving fourth year on student council and as vice president. Also participating in second years of Key Club and as student ambassador for her school, and serving as the social media coordinator in her fourth year with Fellowship for Christian Athletes. Will attend Michigan Technological University and study kinesiology and exercise science.
Essay Quote: “(Sportsmanship) challenges us to choose integrity, even when the stakes are high, and to see every opportunity as a gift from God. Volleyball may have taught me how to hit and set, but sportsmanship taught me how to handle life’s victories and defeats with love and grace. That, above all, is what I will carry with me forever.”
Hannah Lee, Ann Arbor Greenhills
Played four seasons of varsity golf, helping team to MHSAA Finals all four years and posting top-13 individual finishes at last two championship tournaments. Earned all-state and academic all-state recognition. Participating in fourth year of forensics and also fourth year coaching middle school team; reached state finals as competitor in multiple events. Participating in third year as part of University of Michigan Youth Chamber Singers and also played two years as part of Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Youth Ensembles. Participating in fourth year of Greenhills Gryphon Sports Live broadcasting club and as president, and participating in fourth year of United Congressional Award Club and as board member. Earned school’s notable research award for work with University of Michigan’s Obstetrics & Gynecology department. Is undecided where she will attend college but intends to study biology and psychology with potentially a minor in business.
Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship in golf is about more than making the right call or showing respect in the moment; it’s about creating a lasting impact on the game, players, and community. It fosters an environment of mutual respect, where competitors aim to elevate each other rather than just defeat one another. Golf teaches that sportsmanship is a mindset, lasting far beyond the final putt.”
Grace McDowell, Whitehall
Played four seasons of varsity golf, is playing her second of varsity basketball and will play her fourth of varsity tennis this spring. Reached MHSAA Finals all four seasons in golf and as a freshman in tennis, and served as captain of both teams. Earned all-state recognition in golf, all-league in that sport and tennis and also all-state academic in tennis. Serving fourth year as student council class president and participating for second year on Michigan Department of Education Student Advisory Council. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and third as part of West Michigan OsteoScholars. Contributing to youth sports as part of No More Sidelines and First Tee programs and as a youth basketball referee. Is undecided where she will attend college but intends to major in pre-medical studies.
Essay Quote: My love for the game and internal drive have enabled me to embrace my competitive spirit. This spirit is paramount to educational athletics; the desire to win can overshadow sportsmanship. Real victories come not from the score but from the character we build as we compete. Being a good sport is showing respect, maintaining humility in victory, and offering support in defeat.”
Addison Seemann, Freeland
Played four seasons of varsity volleyball, is playing her fourth of varsity basketball, and also has competed in track & field throughout high school. Earned all-region honors in volleyball and basketball and also all-state recognition in the latter, and earned all-state as part of two track relays. Served as captain of volleyball and basketball teams, and earned academic all-state in basketball as well. Served three years as student council class president and this year as executive president. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and fourth on executive council of Be The Change group. Participated in Great Lakes Bay Regional Youth Leadership Institute as a junior and was a three-time attendee of Midland Area Youth Impact Partnership. Serving fourth year as youth basketball referee. Is undecided where she will attend college but intends to study civil engineering.
Essay Quote: “From a young age, if players feel supported while making mistakes and taking risks, they grow not only as athletes, but as people too. By instilling values of teamwork, compassion, and respect at young ages, these traits are carried on with athletes throughout their lives. A positive environment in sports contributes to a lifelong love for personal development and healthy competition.”
Eleana Zhuang, Ann Arbor Greenhills
Played two years of varsity volleyball, playing second of varsity basketball and will compete in third of varsity track & field this spring. Qualified for MHSAA Finals as part of track relay as a junior and helped that team to multiple league championships. Served as basketball captain and will serve as track captain this upcoming season. Earned all-academic in volleyball. Named AP Scholar with Honor. Serving as senior class secretary and treasurer and East Asian Pacific American Community leader. Participating in third year with Student Service Leaders group and earned National Community Service Ambassador Awards the last two years. Serving second year on Canton Public Library’s Teen Leadership Council. Earned multiple art awards including silver key in Southeast Michigan & Thumb Scholastic Art Awards competition. Will attend University of Michigan and study movement science in school of kinesiology.
Essay Quote: “Our passion for sports drives us, but our compassion for each other makes educational athletics an unforgettable environment where everyone feels respected, valued, and supported. … As athletes, we’re constantly faced with the choice between passion and compassion. In terms of sportsmanship, compassion always comes first. When we lead with compassion, we grow into individuals who uplift those around us, a lesson essential beyond sports. That’s what makes athletics unforgettable.”
Oliver Costello, Haslett
Played four seasons of varsity tennis, is competing in fourth on swimming & diving team and intends to play varsity lacrosse this spring; also played junior varsity baseball as a freshman. Earned all-conference and all-area recognition in swimming and earned all-conference recognition in tennis in helping that team reach MHSAA Finals all four seasons and win Regional title as a junior. Earned all-academic honors in both sports and served as team captain of both teams. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and has served as chapter president. Participated in marching band and drumline, and choir, throughout high school, earning Division 1 state ratings in both. Founded and served as president of Intro to Business and Engineering Sciences clubs. Served as youth swim and tennis coach. Will attend University of Michigan and study chemical engineering.
Essay Quote: “I realize there will always be others ahead of me to chase. When we both reach the wall, I can take pride in showing the sportsmanship I’ve developed and in being an example for another young swimmer. No matter how close the race, outside of the pool, we all share the same goal: improvement.”
Ryan Goodrich, Whitehall
Played four years of varsity football and competed in varsity wrestling and baseball throughout his first three years of high school, but has been unable to wrestle this winter because of an injury and is not expecting to be able to play this spring. Reached MHSAA Finals twice in wrestling and placed once, and earned all-conference and academic all-conference in all three sports. Also earned academic all-state in wrestling and baseball. Served as football and wrestling team captain. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and has served as chapter president, and participating in third year of Business Professionals of America and as president. Made BPA state and national finals. Serving second year as Link Crew leader and participating in third year with school’s Hope Squad chapter and first as part of student board for First Priority group. Will attend University of Pennsylvania to study philosophy, politics and economics.
Essay Quote: “Fixating on wins can make the fall from the top unbearable, and being consumed by the losses turns small victories into meaningless moments. That’s where sportsmanship comes in. While at face value it can be respecting the referee or playing fair, sportsmanship is truly reflected in how we handle both triumph and failure. That, I believe, is the greatest lesson from sports.”
Brayden Bryan Lape, Grass Lake
Played four seasons of varsity football, is playing his fourth of varsity basketball and will play his fourth of varsity baseball this spring. Earned all-state honors in basketball and football and academic all-state honors in all three sports. Also earned all-conference in all three sports and set several school football records. Served as four-year team captain in all three sports. Participated all four years in National Honor Society and served all four years on student council – and fulfilled these duties while earning national acclaim as a vocalist, recording original music and finishing fifth on NBC’s “The Voice” Season 22. Will attend Northwood University and study accounting.
Essay Quote: “It was during this time (while injured and unable to play) that I truly was able to understand the power of sportsmanship. It is more than just shaking hands after a game or congratulating an opponent. Those are important and necessary gestures, but true sportsmanship involves respecting the game, respecting the people involved, and respecting yourself. Realizing this helped me become a better version of myself. I realized it’s about embracing triumph and defeat with grace and humility.”
Alan Mrva, Corunna
Played four seasons of varsity football and will compete in fourth of track & field this spring. Earned all-state honors in football and qualified for MHSAA Finals in track & field. Served as team captain multiple seasons for both. Participating in second years of National Honor Society and as part of Corunna Cavalier Ambassadors. Participated in Future Farmers of America throughout high school serving in various leadership roles at the chapter, regional and state levels. Qualified for FFA state competition and was two-time gold-level recipient for skills contest. Serving third year as junior advisor on Shiawassee County Fair Board. Participated in Shiawassee Scholars program throughout high school. Will attend either Michigan State University or Purdue University and study agricultural engineering.
Essay Quote: “Just as in the classroom, sports help us learn through experience. … (That) I learned to take ownership of my actions and respect those around me even when I am at my lowest goes beyond sports. I have used my stance and realized that every interaction I have with another person leaves an impact on their lives. I hope I can build a legacy that future generations of Corunna Cavaliers are inspired by so that one day they use what I have done and become better versions of themselves.”
Other Class B girls finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were Madison Cole, Battle Creek Pennfield; Lauren Sundquist, Gladstone; Sierra Grooters, Hudsonville Unity Christian; Nadia Grierson, Ludington; Anna Catherine Boggs, Monroe Jefferson; Marlee Plaxco, Negaunee; Hailey Dodd, Parma Western; Alaina Hanson, Reed City; Alexandrea Komarowski, St Clair; Scarlet Maison, Standish-Sterling; and Cami Kraai, Whitehall .
Other Class B boys finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were Maxwell Volk, Chesaning; Isaak Rubley, Dundee; Brayden Joslin, Durand; Corbin Allen, Grayling; Jayse Peterson, Hastings; Caden VanHuis, Holland Christian; Gavin J. Trevillian, Kingsford; Nicholas Caldwell, North Branch; Benjamin Kelenske, Olivet; Blair Scott, Olivet; Owen Feldpausch, Owosso; and Brady Tate, Whitehall.
The Class C and D scholarship award recipients were announced Feb. 4, and the Class A honorees will be announced Feb. 18.
Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan was founded in 1949 by Michigan farmers who wanted an insurance company that worked as hard as they did. Those values still guide the company today and are a big reason why it is known as Michigan’s Insurance Company, dedicated to protecting the farms, families, and businesses of this great state. Farm Bureau Insurance agents across Michigan provide a full range of insurance services – life, home, auto, farm, business, retirement, Lake Estate®, and more – protecting nearly 500,000 Michigan policyholders.
The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by more than 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 more than 1.4 million spectators each year.