Scholars & Athletes 2019: Class C & D

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

February 4, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The Michigan High School Athletic Association has selected 11 student-athletes from Class C and D member schools to receive scholarships through the MHSAA/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Award program.

Farm Bureau Insurance, in its 30^th 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 C Scholar-Athlete Award honorees are: Rachel Allen, Mason County Central; Precious Delos Santos, Indian River Inland Lakes; Lauren Freeland, Kent City; Riley Poupore, Iron Mountain; Trey Feldeisen, Ann Arbor Greenhills; Dane Smitz, Roscommon; and Alexander VanDeWeghe, Ithaca.

The Class D Scholar-Athlete Award recipients are: Abbey Bullis, Peck; Samantha Somers, Mackinaw City; Brendan LeClaire, Dollar Bay; and Ryan Yahner, McBain Northern Michigan Christian.

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

Rachel Allen, Mason County Central
Playing fourth season of varsity basketball, ran four seasons of varsity cross country and will run her fourth of track & field this spring. Earned all-state recognition in basketball and track and all-league in cross country, in addition to academic all-state or all-league honors in all three sports. Served as basketball captain three years and helped team to District title in 2018. Participating in fourth year of National Honor Society and served as class and student council vice president both for three years. Earned MCC’s HG Bacon Award for high academic success through all three trimesters her first three years of high school and was invited to leadership summit at Grand Valley State University as a junior. Has participated in a number of volunteer service projects throughout high school and this year is taking part in in-the-field clinical rotations as part of Allied Health Technology course. Will attend Calvin College and study speech/language pathology.

Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship is frequently thought to be how you present yourself outwardly on the court or the field. I believe sportsmanship is much more. It is the person who puts the team first, yet constantly strives to better themselves. Sportsmanship truly shines in the person you are behind the scenes.”

Precious Delos Santos, Indian River Inland Lakes
Playing fourth season of varsity basketball, ran four seasons of varsity cross country and will play her fourth season of varsity softball and run fourth of track & field this spring. Earned all-league honors in cross country, track and softball. Started for MHSAA Finals Division 4 champion softball team in 2017 and runner-up in 2016, helped cross country teams advance to MHSAA Finals twice and served as captain of basketball and softball teams. Participating in fourth year of student council and has served as president, and participated in three years of band including as drum major. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and robotics and serves as a peer tutoring mentor. Will attend Saginaw Valley State University and study neuroscience.

Essay Quote: “I believe sportsmanship is more than just lifting an opponent from the ground or giving respect when the opponent becomes injured – or maybe even respecting the game and being willing to shake the opposing teams’ hands after. … In (my) case, I believed helping another person gave me a greater feeling that finishing the race. I felt (that) if I was in the same situation as the girl (I helped), she would’ve done the same for me.”

Lauren Freeland, Kent City
Playing fourth season of varsity basketball, ran four seasons of varsity cross country and will run her fourth of track & field this spring. Earned all-state all four years of cross country and five times in track, and earned individual league and Regional championships in both. Helped all three teams to league championships and basketball team to Regional title in 2018 and District title in 2016. Served as captain in basketball and cross country and holds school records in cross country and track. Earned academic all-state honors in cross country and track. Participating in third year of National Honor Society and has assisted in a number of youth athletics activities as a coach, administrator and official; also served as a teacher’s assistant in summer reading program. Participating in fourth year of youth group. Will attend Michigan State University and study business.

Essay Quote: “The most amazing thing about high school sports are the friendships you can make and the impact you can have on someone else. There are very few other places in life (where) you can have a strong bond with someone through pain. … How true it is that we all, as runners, are able to come together as friends because we understand the work one another has put in.”

Riley Poupore, Iron Mountain
Playing fourth year of varsity basketball and will play her fourth of varsity soccer and run her second of track & field this spring; also played two seasons of varsity volleyball. Served as team captain of volleyball, basketball and soccer teams multiple seasons and earned all-league honors in basketball and soccer. Ran on MHSAA Finals championship track relay team and owns school and league records for single-season soccer goals. Participating in second year of Iron Mountain Honor Society and fourth on Iron Mountain/Kingsford Youth Advisory Committee, and serving as president of latter this school year. Also participating in fourth years of key club and varsity club (as president of both) and served two years as student council representative. Served as group or team building leader for North Dickinson Schools Leadership Conference for two years and as youth leader for youth summit conference for three years. Will attend Central Michigan University and study pre-medicine.

Essay Quote: “How could a player from the other team, a team that my team was trying to beat, say something so kind, so moving, in such a tense situation? How could this girl from the other team know what I needed at that moment? … That small gesture has instilled in me the true definition of sportsmanship.”

Trey Feldeisen, Ann Arbor Greenhills
Played four seasons of varsity tennis and will play his fourth of varsity lacrosse this spring. Served as captain of both teams. Earned two MHSAA Finals individual flight championships and contributed to two team tennis championships and two runner-up finishes. Earned all-state recognition in both tennis and lacrosse. Participating in fourth year of forensics and has helped team to two state championships and one runner-up finish. Earned multiple letters for service from the United Way of Washtenaw County and participated in medical service trips to Peru, Haiti and Kenya. Participating in third year of Model United Nations club and as secretary of training, and participating on inaugural leadership committee for school’s STEM society. Serving as youth representative to church’s staff-parish committee and as a cabinet member on Regional Youth Council. Participated in brain cancer research through University of Michigan. Will attend Washington University in Missouri and is still considering what he will study.

Essay Quote: “There are many opponents we face who have not played tennis since they were in preschool, and who (do) not have the skill that we as a team do. These matches are the ones that are most important to us and our coaches. We always push ourselves to win the ‘right’ way. This first and foremost means to show our opponents respect on and off the court.”

Dane Smitz, Roscommon
Playing third season of varsity basketball and played three of varsity football; will play fourth of varsity baseball this spring. Earned all-league honors in all three sports and all-state in football, and helped baseball team to District championships as a sophomore and junior. Served as captain of all three teams. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and as chapter vice president, and serving third year on Youth Advisory Council. Participating in fourth year of quiz bowl and this year as captain, and also participating in second year of interact club and fourth with church youth group. Earned a number of school academic honors and honorable mention for wood shop from Michigan Industrial Technology Education Society. Served as student leader of autism awareness group. Will attend Aquinas College and study pre-dental.

Essay Quote: “Always looking up to the older kids, I dreamed about being as good as they were at sports and representing their families as well as our community. As a captain, I know that even more focus is put on me as a student-athlete in our community. Whether it be handing over the ball to a referee after a touchdown or holding a door open for an elderly couple at a restaurant, small acts like these are what dictate the way future students and athletes will act at my school.”

Alexander VanDeWeghe, Ithaca
Will run his fourth season of varsity track & field this spring, and is a two-time all-stater and three-time MHSAA Finals qualifier. Served as team captain as a junior. Serving second year as student council president, fourth as Model United Nations team captain and third as quiz bowl team captain, and also as an executive board member for National Honor Society in his second year participating in the chapter. Earned all-league honors for quiz bowl and Model UN and recognition for the latter at competitions in Washington, D.C., and Indianapolis. Named Michigan Council for the Social Studies “Student of the Year.” Playing second year in school jazz band and played three as part of marching band. Participating in church youth group for fourth year. Will attend University of Michigan and study environmental engineering.

Essay Quote: “Every action I take during a competition, or even practice, is being observed and absorbed by those around, especially younger children who are easily impacted. Ultimately, the sphere of influence as an athlete is often significantly larger than we realize, and it is vital to be conscious of our actions in sports to ensure that the impact we leave on those around us is a positive one.”

Other Class C girls finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Sarah Barnes, Houghton Lake; Megan Dopheide, Lawton; Elizabeth O'Hotzke, Manchester; Joslyn Muth, Manistique; Jordan Cooper, Saranac; Thea Johnson, Saugatuck; Lillian Bambacht, Union City; and Jordan Craven, Whitmore Lake.

Other Class C boys finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Brian Goetz, Blissfield; Timothy Marvin, Byron; Noah Waldron, Concord; Jared Swiontek, East Jackson; Jack Sumners, Marcellus; Logan Marshall, Marlette; Logan Solgat, Marlette; Drew Ward, Saranac; and Nathan Huizar, Vassar.

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

Abbey Bullis, Peck
Playing her third season of varsity basketball and finished her second of varsity volleyball in the fall; will play her fourth of varsity softball this spring. Earned all-league honors in all three and helped basketball and softball teams to league titles. Served as captain of all three teams at least two seasons. Will graduate having completed nine college classes through dual enrollment and is participating in her third year of National Honor Society. Participating in fourth years on math academic games and quiz bowl teams and serving her fourth as her class vice president and as part of Sanilac County Youth Advisory Council. Participates in various volunteer efforts and earned President’s Gold Volunteer Service Award. Graduated from Hugh O’Brian (HOBY) leadership program and earned HOBY Leadership Certificate of Recognition. Will attend Oakland University and study mathematics.

Essay Quote: “I try to be a positive role model for the underclassmen at my school. When they are watching in the stands, I would like them to understand that sports are important, but how you carry yourself and treat others on the court is just as important. … Someone told me that people know me for my athletic ability and accomplishments, but that people remember me for the way I play the game and my positive attitude – win or lose. If this is true, I feel this is the best compliment I could be given.”

Samantha Somers, Mackinaw City
Playing third season of varsity basketball and ran her fourth of varsity cross country in the fall; will play her fourth of varsity softball this spring. Earned all-conference honors in all three sports and academic all-league in basketball and cross country. Served as captain of all three teams. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and as president, and has served as class president all four years of high school. Also serving third year on Straits Area Youth Advisory Council. Plays in concert and jazz bands and earned multiple high ratings, and earned multiple placings as part of Science Olympiad team. Participates in yearbook and Random Acts of Kindness Club. Will attend Wayne State University and study health science.

Essay Quote: “Educational athletics has taught me to be kind to others for no other reason than to be kind. For example, you do not have to high five other runners at the end of a race or help an opponent up when they fall in basketball, but you do it without thinking of a reward for doing it. You could say it is “the right thing to do,” which is said a lot – and although it is true, this explanation is not meaningful. I enjoy being courteous towards teammates and opponents alike because it spreads positivity even in the heat of competition.”

Brendan LeClaire, Dollar Bay
Playing third season of varsity basketball and played three of varsity football, and will run his fourth of track & field and play his third of varsity golf in the spring. Also ran varsity cross country as a freshman and sophomore. Earned all-league honors in football and all-state in cross country, and served as team captain in basketball, football and track. Owns four school track records and is team’s all-time leading point scorer; also holds school record in cross country and helped basketball team to Class D Semifinals in 2018. Serving fourth year as class president and on Student Leadership Committee, and participating in second year of National Honor Society, serving as president of SLC and NHS chapter as well. Earned first place in woodworking from Michigan Industrial Technology Education Society. Will attend Michigan Technological University and study engineering.

Essay Quote: “I attend a school in a small community in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. As a student athlete in this setting, sportsmanship plays an important role, not only on the court or field, but also in the community. Our community is so small, I have had to compete against friends and relatives, at times. Always focusing on being a good opponent has guaranteed those friendships and family ties remain strong. How I’ve had to interact with people on the court has taught me to be the best person I can be in my community.”

Ryan Yahner, McBain Northern Michigan Christian
Played four seasons of varsity soccer and will run his fourth of track & field this spring. Earned all-conference honors in both sports and served as captain of both teams; helped soccer team to District title this past fall. Participating in fourth years on student council and as part of school’s praise team, and second of National Honor Society – and serving as president of all three this school year. Also participating in fourth years of band/choir and high school musical, and earned a first-place regional finish in forensics as well as various pins for musical performances. Will attend Grand Valley State University to study general education, with the aspiration to then attend a seminary.

Essay Quote: “Now more than ever, young people need to hear that they are valuable and vital to their community, and educational athletics are a fantastic means to do so. Young people should be able to count on educational athletics to be a safe place; this is a huge part of sportsmanship. … Sportsmanship is important to educational athletics because it helps maintain a healthy and positive playing environment, and it creates a safe place for young athletes to grow and see their value through each other’s play.”

Other Class D girls finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Keagan Fischer, Bellaire; Lyndsi Wolfe, Fulton; Natalie Woodland, Lansing Christian; Scout Nelson, Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart; Jessie Rieth, Three Oaks River Valley; and Julia Diskin, West Bloomfield Frankel Jewish Academy.

Other Class D boys finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Jake Lane, Climax-Scotts; William Newbold, Frankfort; John Slivka, Manistee Catholic Central; Noah Krepostman, Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart; Brendan Zeien, Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart; and Brandon Scheurer, Portland St. Patrick.

The Class B scholarship award recipients will be announced Feb. 12, and the Class A honorees will be announced Feb. 19.

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.

Scholars and Athletes 2014: Class C, D

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

February 4, 2014

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The Michigan High School Athletic Association has selected 10 student-athletes from Class C and D member schools to receive scholarships through its Scholar-Athlete Award program.

Farm Bureau Insurance, in its 25th 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 which can come from any classification.

Each of the scholarship recipients will be honored at halftime ceremonies of the Class C Boys Basketball Final game March 22 at the Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing. Commemorative medallions will be given to the finalists in recognition of their accomplishments.

The Class C Scholar-Athlete Award honorees are: Melissa Dowell, Clinton; Erin McDonnell, Traverse City St. Francis; Kirsten Olling, Breckenridge; Stephen T. Erwin, Royal Oak Shrine Catholic; Devin Morrow, Three Oaks River Valley; and Ty Michael Rollin, Beal City.

The Class D Scholar-Athlete Award recipients are: MacKenzie Ciganick, Bellaire; Sara Inbody, Deckerville; Grant Hohlbein, Adrian Lenawee Christian; and Steven McKenzie, Marcellus.

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

Melissa Dowell, Clinton
Played volleyball, basketball and softball during her high school career and expects to finish with four varsity letters in softball. Contributed to softball teams that won two MHSAA Finals, three District and three Tri-County Conference championships, and played on a District champion in volleyball. Named Most Improved Player in softball as a sophomore and the same for volleyball as a junior; also named volleyball team captain this fall. Served in student government three years including as student body treasurer and secretary this year. Also serves as secretary of her National Honor Society chapter and editor of the yearbook, and is ranked academically among the top 10 in her class. Volunteered multiple times for the Dearborn Firefighters Burn Drive and earned CPR certification. Will attend Siena Heights University and study nursing.

Essay Quote: “Playing on a state championship softball team has been an incredible experience. More amazing, however, has been the journey and the lessons learned along the way. I learned that good sportsmanship is like a sacrifice bunt. When I’m given the sign, I step up to the plate and execute without question. I don’t expect a display of fireworks or a grand headline in a newspaper.”

Erin McDonnell, Traverse City St. Francis
Participated in cross country, basketball and track and field and anticipates graduating with eight varsity letters. Ran on MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 4 champion 1,600-meter relay in 2012 when St. Francis finished team runner-up and was a contributor when the Gladiators won the team championship in 2013. Served as a captain on her cross country and track and field teams in 2013 and her junior varsity basketball team. Earned individual academic all-state honors in cross country three times and a variety of other team, league and region awards for athletic and academic performance. Participated in her school’s Key Club all four years of high school, its National Honor Society chapter as a junior and senior and as student body treasurer this school year. Undecided on where she will attend college but plans to study biology.

Essay Quote: “Compassion from a sportsmanship standpoint is simply respect. Through good sportsmanship, we develop and show compassion by actions such as lending a hand to another teammate (who) has fallen down or congratulating a team after a hard-fought win. ... By having compassion in sportsmanship, we show a love and respect for others leading to nothing but appreciation and respect in return. “

Kirsten Olling, Breckenridge
Became the seventh in MHSAA girls cross country history to win four Finals championships and set the Lower Peninsula Division 4 Finals record with a time of 17:44.9. Also won the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 4 3,200-meter run championship the last three seasons and the 1,600 as a freshman. Served as captain of her cross country team the last three seasons and her track and field team. Named academic all-state in cross country three seasons. Served as her class’ vice president and the yearbook sports editor and won multiple leadership awards as part of the Future Farmers of America. Served as an assistant coach for her local Girls on the Run program. Will attend Arizona State University and study biology with a minor in kinesiology.

Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship is more than just playing fair. True sportsmanship is knowing that your opponent has the same goals, helping others reach those goals and working hard every day. ... I get excited when I hear I get to race against the best. Sportsmanship is not about being happy even if you lose, but it is about helping your competition be their best.”

Stephen T. Erwin, Royal Oak Shrine Catholic
Participated in three years of varsity football, two of varsity ice hockey and expects to play his fourth season of varsity baseball this spring; also played two seasons of junior varsity basketball. Earned all-state honorable mention as a hockey goaltender and all-league baseball honors the last two seasons. Served as captain of his junior varsity basketball team and has been named captain of the baseball team for this spring. Served as student council class treasurer all four years of high school and has been a member of the National Honor Society for three years. Named Homecoming King this fall and earned Shrine Knight Award as the Most Outstanding Freshman Student. Serves as leader of the Shrine Service Club and has participated for four years as a coach and counselor in the Angel’s Place summer baseball program. Will attend Saint Louis University in Missouri and study either sports business or aviation.

Essay Quote: “A display of sportsmanship is important in educational athletics because it acknowledges the respect of other athletes and their roles. Simple handshakes after the game or some action on a bigger level are ways to show sportsmanship. ... Sportsmanship, in my mind, is not only respect but also caring for another athlete who has similar goals.”

Devin Morrow, Three Oaks River Valley
Participated in varsity cross country, basketball, golf and track and field and anticipates graduating with 10 varsity letters including four in golf. Served as his golf team’s captain three seasons and also as a basketball and cross country co-captain. Has participated in student government, National Honor Society and Business Professionals of America all for three years, and Students Against Destructive Decisions and his school’s band and drama club for four years. Served as his class’ president the last three years and also as president of his SADD and NHS chapters. Received Best Drum Major award at the Hastings Marching Invitational. Volunteered for three years as part of a Michigan Department of Transportation Highway Cleanup community service project. Will attend the University of Michigan and study engineering.

Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship is much more than following the rules of the game. Sportsmanship allows for a highly competitive sporting event to maintain a dignified manner no matter the outcome. ... All in all, it makes sense to look at sportsmanship in a similar way that we view friendship – treat the people you play with and against as you would like to be treated yourself.”

Ty Michael Rollin, Beal City
Played four seasons of varsity football, two of basketball and will play his fourth season of varsity baseball this spring. Earned all-state honors in football as a senior and honorable mention as both a sophomore and junior, and also earned all-state honors in baseball as a sophomore (second team) and junior (first team). Contributed to a football MHSAA Finals runner-up finish in 2012 and a baseball MHSAA runner-up in 2013, and also to a Regional championship in basketball. Served as a coach at Beal City’s youth basketball camp the last four years and coached the eighth grade football team that finished league champion. Earned his school’s Principal’s Award as both a freshman and junior and participated in the Natural Helpers peer assistance program for two years. Will attend Central Michigan University and study pre-medical and dentistry.

Essay Quote: “A positive attitude regarding my own performance, my coaches, my teammates and my opponents is of utmost importance when it comes to good sportsmanship. ... I am a strong believer in not engaging in negative speech of any kind with my opponents. Being a team captain and a leader for many sports teams, throughout the year, I am constantly reminding my teammates to just walk away when an opponent is talking ‘smack.’”

Other Class C girls finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Korinna Corbin, Addison; Elizabeth Baker, Bronson; Amanda Reagle, Homer; Mandy Haferkorn, Iron Mountain; Megan Chapman, Ishpeming Westwood; Keara Wilson, Marlette; Grace Leighton, Mendon; Allie Kendall, Saginaw Nouvel; and Kari Feddema, Schoolcraft.

Other Class C boys finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Matthew S. Johnson, Fennville; Carter Ballinger, Jonesville; Luke Joseph Smigielski, Mancelona; Dakota Hall, Marlette; Bradley Schaub, Marlette; Kyle Baxter, Mayville; Jason Beckman, Shelby; James Barber, St Charles; and Nicholas DeSimpelare, Unionville-Sebewaing.

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

MacKenzie Ciganick, Bellaire
Played four seasons on the boys soccer team, three of basketball and will run her fourth season with the track and field team this spring. Qualified for the MHSAA Finals in track and field the last two seasons when she also served as a captain, and earned all-league honors the last three years. Played on a league and Regional champion soccer team this fall and a two-time District finalist basketball team. Earned academic all-state honors the last three years in soccer and academic all-conference the last three in track and field. Has maintained all A’s through every marking period of high school and will graduate as her class' co-salutatorian. Participated in National Honor Society for two years, on the school’s athletic council as a sophomore and as her church’s teen representative the last two years. Also has served as school president for the Antrim County Youth Coalition the last two years. Will attend Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, to study pre-physician assistant.

Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship in educational athletics goes far beyond shaking hands at the end of the game. I learned lessons ... throughout my four years of participating in high school sports that have shaped me as a human being.”

Sara Inbody, Deckerville
Played two seasons of varsity volleyball, three of varsity basketball and will play her third on the softball team this spring. Served as captain of all three teams and helped all three win league titles and the volleyball and basketball team to District championships. Received all-league honors or honorable mention in all three sports. Served on student government all four years of high school including three as class president and this year as class vice president. Also participated in National Honor Society the last three years including as secretary of her chapter the last two. Earned Principal’s Award and Outstanding Student Award from the Sanilac County Career Center in 2011. Also participated in Health Occupations Students of America and as a volunteer tutor. Will attend Central Michigan University and study pre-medical with a focus on pediatrics.

Essay Quote: “Helping another person in a way that seems effortless to you, such as picking them up when they are on the ground during a game, is just one simple way to show sportsmanship and get others to realize how big of a difference you can make for somebody.”

Grant Hohlbein, Adrian Lenawee Christian
Played four years of varsity basketball and will play his fourth of varsity baseball this spring, plus three of varsity football and junior varsity as a sophomore when the varsity was eliminated because of a lack of players. Earned all-state and academic all-state honors for baseball, all-league in football as both a junior and senior, and all-county honors in basketball. Served on student council the last three years including as president as a senior. Participated in National Honor Society the last two years and as an international student conversation partner this year. Coached as part of the Lenawee Christian Cougar Camp for four years and officiated football, basketball and baseball for three years for the Christian Family Centre Impact Sport Leagues. Will attend Grand Canyon University in Arizona to study pre-medical.

Essay Quote: “Humanity is resilient, but it is up to us on how quickly we recover from loss. In sports, it is important to learn how to lose just as it is important to learn how to win. A good sport doesn’t let his emotions dictate his behavior.”

Steven McKenzie, Marcellus
Expects to graduate with 15 varsity letters after participating in three years of football and four each of wrestling, cross country and track and field. Served as captain of the football and wrestling teams and helped the football team to a winning record in 2012, its first since 2003. Earned all-league honors in football. Holds a 4.0 grade-point average and is a three-year member of both the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society, holding positions of vice president and president, respectively, in his school’s chapters. Also served on his Principal’s Advisory Council for three years and participated in marching band, concert band and 4-H for four years. Earned his student council’s Citizenship Award and also attended the statewide Young People’s Citizenship Seminar. Will attend Michigan State University and study agronomy, soil science and plant science.

Essay quote: “An athlete with good sportsmanship not only strives to improve but strives to improve for the team, not for selfish pride and glory. Anybody who can put (his or her) pride on the line in exchange for good sportsmanship is a champion. Not everybody is willing to work hard for the greater good, no matter how beneficial.”

Other Class D girls finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Julie Ahnen, Bessemer; Vanessa Freberg, Eben Junction Superior Central; Kari Borowiak, Gaylord St Mary; Lyvia Deaver, Jackson Christian; Erin Gast, Lake Linden-Hubbell; and Jennifer Malcolm, Plymouth Christian.

Other Class D boys finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Bret Hiveley, AuGres-Sims; Tyler Anthony Johnson, Bear Lake; Jeremy Bigalke, Manistee Catholic Central; Ben Feliczak, Manistee Catholic Central; Alec Firack, Pickford; and Harding Fears III, Southfield Christian.

The Class B scholarship award recipients will be announced on Feb. 11, and the Class A honorees will be announced on Feb. 18.

Farm Bureau Insurance, one of Michigan's major insurers, has a statewide force of more than 400 agents serving more than 380,000 Michigan policyholders. Besides providing life, home, auto, farm, business and retirement insurance, the company also sponsors life-saving, real-time Doppler weather tracking systems in several Michigan communities.

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