Troy Athens' Winning Work Promotes Importance of Becoming MI HEARTSafe
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
July 22, 2022
Troy Athens, and more specifically its girls soccer team, has been selected as this year’s winner of the MI HEARTSafe School Video Contest promoting the importance of Michigan schools becoming an MI HEARTSafe school.
The Kimberly Anne Gillary Foundation partners with the MHSAA to promote cardiac awareness – and Athens’ student-produced video (above) earned the school $5,000.
Michigan has lost at least 81 students to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and related causes since 1999, according to data compiled by the Kimberly Anne Gillary Foundation. Randy and Sue Gillary lost their daughter Kimberly to a cardiac arrest in a high school water polo game in April of 2000. Randy and Sue Gillary founded the Kimberly Anne Gillary Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) charitable foundation within days of losing Kimberly. The mission of the Foundation is to donate automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to Michigan high schools and to advocate cardiac screening and testing of Michigan high school student athletes.
A major drive of the foundation is for every Michigan school to become an MI-HEARTSafe School. This is a designation given by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHSS) when a school has met the criteria to demonstrate it is prepared to respond to a cardiac emergency on school property. Schools receive a banner and other materials that can be displayed in the school to let those who attend and visit know that the school is an MI-HEARTSafe School.
MHSAA Accepting Student Advisory Council Applications for Class of 2028
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
April 8, 2026
The Michigan High School Athletic Association is seeking student-athletes to become members of its Student Advisory Council beginning with the 2026-27 school year.
Four boys and four girls from the Class of 2028 will be selected to two-year terms and will meet on matters related to maintaining and promoting a proper perspective and sensible scope for high school sports in Michigan. Eight members from the Class of 2027 already are serving on the Council, while eight members from the Class of 2026 are leaving the Council this spring.
To be eligible for the committee, candidates must be a member of the Class of 2028, complete the official application including answering the three short-answer questions, submit a letter of recommendation from a school administrator, have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) and be available for all scheduled meetings.
In addition, candidates should show a history of leadership on athletic teams as well as with other extracurricular activities, community service projects, or in the workplace; and show an understanding of the role of school sports and have ideas for promoting a proper perspective for educational athletics.
Applications are due to the MHSAA by 4:30 p.m. on April 20. Applications can be downloaded from the Student Advisory Council page and must be returned via e-mail, fax or any mail delivery service.
The Student Advisory Council meets in person five times each school year, three times via Zoom, and once more for a 24-hour leadership camp. In addition to assisting in the promotion of the educational value of interscholastic athletics, the Council discusses issues dealing with the 4 S’s of educational athletics: scholarship, sportsmanship, safety (including health and nutrition) and the sensible scope of athletic programs. A fifth S – student leadership – is also a common topic. Members contribute to the planning of Sportsmanship Summits and other student leadership events, and assist with medal ceremonies at MHSAA championship events.
Newly-chosen members will join the following from the Class of 2027: Nichole James, Detroit Edison; Mia McGregor, Mio; Camryn Siegers, Holland Christian; Lucy Weber, Fenton; Brody Hammer, Middleville Thornapple Kellogg; Sam Bentley, Ypsilanti Lincoln; Mason Mireles, Hartford; and Joey Smokevitch, Johannesburg-Lewiston.
The eight new members of the Student Advisory Council will be notified by May 1. The 2026-27 in-person meetings at the MHSAA Office in East Lansing are tentatively scheduled for Aug. 23, Oct. 4, Dec. 6, Feb. 7 and April 25, in addition to Zoom meetings Sept. 13, Jan. 10 and March 7. For additional information, contact Andy Frushour at the MHSAA at (517) 332-5046 or [email protected].
PHOTO The 2025-26 MHSAA Student Advisory Council.