Nine Wiregrass student-athletes honored at Bryant-Jordan Banquet - Dothan Eagle

April 09, 2019 at 07:32PM

Nine student-athletes in the Dothan Eagle coverage area were honored as regional winners Monday night at the 34th Annual Bryant-Jordan Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet in Birmingham.

The locals honored were Northview's Megan Maddox and Harrison Holman, Carroll's Samantha Adams, Rehobeth's Chasilyn Sawyers, Houston Academy's Chris Tamburin, Wicksburg's Seth White, Daleville's Jamie Peters, Cottonwood's Hedaya Awad and Abbeville's Jackson Parker.

All nine were either regional scholar-athlete or achievement winners.

Scholar-athlete awards are given to those who excel in academics and athletics and who show leadership as a student and in civic and church areas.

Achievement awards are given to students who have overcome obstacles or hardships either physically or of a personal nature to achieve a level of excellence relative to their academic and athletic ability.

The locals earning scholar-athlete honors were Northview's Maddox, Carroll's Adams, Houston Academy's Tamburin, Daleville's Peters and Abbeville's Parker.

Northview's Holman, Rehobeth's Sawyers, Wicksburg's White and Cottonwood's Awad were achievement regional winners.

Overall 104 student-athletes statewide from Class 1A through Class 7A – all seniors – were honored as regional winners at Monday's banquet. Half were honored in the scholar-athlete category, the other half as achievement winners.

Each regional winner earned a $3,000 scholarship and was eligible for their respective class award in their category and also for the state's overall award in that category.

The winners in each class received an additional $3,500 scholarship. The state's overall scholar athlete and overall achievement winners earned a minimum of $10,500 each in scholarship money, including $4,000 as an overall winner in addition to being a regional and class winner.

All of the scholarships awarded can be used at the school of the recipient's choice.

None of the local students honored were named a class or overall winner on Monday.

More than $1 million in scholarships were awarded at Monday's banquet through the Bryant-Jordan Foundation, named in memory of former University of Alabama head football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant and former Auburn University head football coach Ralph "Shug" Jordan.

Founded in 1986 by the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in partnership with the Alabama High School Athletic Association, the Bryant-Jordan Student-Athlete Scholarship Program has awarded more than $12 million in college scholarship awards to more than 3,000 Alabama high school students.

Below is a look at some of the qualifications of the area's regional winners:

Northview's Maddox, a Class 6A, Region 2 scholar-athlete winner, competed in soccer and was a cheerleader. She has a 4.62 weighed grade point average and is the school valedictorian in a class of 322. She was a member of SGA, Junior Civitan, Key Club, the school's youth group and Hugh O'Brian Youth in Leadership. She earned All-America honors as a cheerleader.

Northview's Holman, a Class 6A, Region 2 achievement winner, competed in soccer. He carries a 4.52 weighted grade point average. He was SGA class representative (Fr.), class president (Soph.), class vice president (Jr.) and class senator (Sr.). He was a member of the Junior Civitan Club, Key Club, National Honor Society and attended Boys State. He has overcome a rare eye condition called Coloboma, which has left him completely blind in one eye, and prevents his eyes from dilating in bright lights, forcing him to wear tinted sports goggles while playing soccer.

Carroll's Adams, a Class 5A, Region 2 scholar-athlete winner, competed in soccer and tennis and is also a cheerleader. She has a 4.23 weighted GPA and is ranked No. 2 in her 180-member class. She has been SGA president (Sr.), SGA vice president (Fr., Soph.), FCA co-chairman, Misses Club Inc., president and a member of Government Club, National Honor Society, Hugh O'Brian Youth in Leadership, Mu Alpha Theta (Math) Society, Spanish National Honor Society and a Girls State Delegate.

Rehobeth's Sawyers, a Class 5A, Region 2 achievement winner, competed in softball and volleyball and was also a cheerleader. She has a 3.8 grade point average. She has been class treasurer and part of Wired Ministries and Motion Conference. She has excelled in sports and academics while helping her mom deal with cancer.

Houston Academy's Tamburin, a Class 3A, Region 2 scholar-athlete winner, competed in cross country and baseball. He has a 4.61 weighted grade point average. He has been SGA vice-president and treasurer, band co-captain, band team leader, a youth group teen leader, "Edge" leader and a part of the student leadership council. He earned National Merit on National French Exams 1 and 2.

Wicksburg's White, a Class 3A, Region 2 achievement winner, competed in football, cross country and baseball. He has a 4.52 weighted grade point average and is valedictorian. He has been SGA representative (Fr., So.), SGA president (Sr.), class president (all four years), Engineering Department president and school ambassador, a Senior Beta Club representative, a Boys State delegate and a member of the robotics team, community service project and Dothan leadership class. White overcame a major wrist injury that required multiple surgeries and later a motorcycle accident that crushed his bones below his knee to excel in sports and academics.

Daleville's Peters, a Class 2A, Region 2 scholar-athlete winner, competed in softball. She has a 4.0 grade point average and is the school valedictorian. She is JROTC Battalion Commander, and has been a marching band/concert band lieutenant, bassoon section leader and pit section leader, Miss DHS, Beta Club chaplain and a member of FCA and National Honor Society.

Cottonwood's Awad, a Class 2A, Region 2 achievement winner, has been a cheerleader, earning all-America honors. She carries a 3.2 weighted grade point average in dual enrollment classes at Wallace College. She has been band secretary, concert band first chair, band librarian and a member of FFA, National Beta Club, junior class prom committee and HOSA (Health Occupation Student Association). She has overcome family hardships to excel in athletics and academics.

Abbeville's Parker, a Class 2A, Region 3 scholar-athlete winner, competed in football. He has a 4.32 weighted grade point average and is ranked No. 1 in his class of 61. He was SGA vice-president and ambassador and a member of Beta Club, Key Club, Vex Robotics Team, FFA, FCA, Technology and Science Association, Scholars Bowl, Houston County Leadership, Boys State, Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership and Alabama Lions Club Leadership.