ATLANTA – Athletes for a Better World (ABW) and the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) announced the winners of the 2nd annual Vincent J. Dooley Scholarship Award, presented by Champion Window, Door and Patio Room Company.
University of Georgia Hall of Fame Coach Vince Dooley announced the two recipients – Lanie Bakeberg from Sprayberry High School and Kevin Lewis from Benedictine Military School – at a luncheon held at Turner Field prior to the Atlanta Braves game on Sunday, May 3. Bakeberg and Lewis were each awarded a four-year, $1,000 per year scholarship, as well as $1,000 to present to the charity of their choice.
In addition to the two scholarship winners, 250 Dooley Award recipients were honored as the senior athletes from their high school who shine as the most outstanding leaders on the field, in their school and in their community.
“The Georgia High School Association is excited and proud to be involved in the recognition of such fine young men and women,” said GHSA Executive Director Ralph Swearngin. “The elements of teamwork, citizenship and achievement are what high school sports should be about. We are pleased to congratulate this year's award winners.”
In December 2008, athletic directors from each high school in the state were asked to nominate an outstanding senior male and female athlete from their school to be honored with Dooley Awards. All award recipients were then reviewed by a selection committee, who chose 10 boys and 10 girls as finalists for the Dooley Scholarship. The Dooley Scholarship is presented to one male and one female senior selected from Georgia’s high schools who exemplify distinguished individual character, outstanding teamwork and commendable citizenship in their communities.
“The purpose of the Dooley award is to recognize outstanding athletes who embrace the ideal of ‘winning more than the game,’” said ABW President Fred Northup. “This award calls attention to the high esteem in which strong values and good character are held, so that they may become a stronger part of the ethos of participation in Georgia high school sports.”
The scholarship finalists included 10 boys and 10 girls from Georgia area schools.
Girls
Sarah Adams – Spalding High School
Brooke Atkinson – Wesleyan School
Lanie Bakeberg – Sprayberry High School*
Sarah Hohenberger – Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School
Callie Ann Poole – Taylor County High School
Hilary Pulos – Wayne County High School
Ronnesha Smith – Pierce County High School
Hilary Turner – Creekview High School
Bailey Wild – Temple High School
Candace Williams – Union County High School
Boys
Justin Bowen – Banks County High School
Spenser Gruenenfelder – Chestatee High School
Logan House – Pierce County High School
Cleveland Jackson – Darlington School
Jake Lethbridge – Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School
Kevin Lewis – Benedictine Military School*
Chip Lovejoy – Blessed Trinity Catholic High School
Scott Nguyen – Duluth High School
Demetrius Stinson – Liberty County High School
Jack Vrtis – Kennesaw Mountain High School
*Award Winner
ABOUT THE VINCENT J. DOOLEY AWARD AND SCHOLARSHIP
The Vincent J. Dooley Award and Scholarship is presented annually by Athletes for a Better World and the Georgia High School Association. Each year, every high school in Georgia is invited to select one male and one female senior athlete to receive the Dooley Award. The award recipients are chosen for their distinguished individual character, outstanding teamwork and citizenship. All Dooley Award recipients are then reviewed by a selection committee who honors one male and one female from the state with the Dooley Scholarship, presented by Vince Dooley each spring. The purpose of the awards and scholarships is to recognize outstanding individuals and call attention to the high esteem in which these values are held, so that they may become a stronger part of the ethos of participation in Georgia high school sports.
ABOUT ATHLETES FOR A BETTER WORLD
Founded in 1998, Athletes for a Better World (ABW) is a non-profit organization with the challenge to change the culture of sports in America. ABW’s innovative vision is to articulate the positive values that have historically been the foundation of good sportsmanship and good citizenship in the Code for Living, and then to challenge individuals, teams and leagues to commit to it, providing free support and resources to those who join the effort. Since its founding, ABW has spread throughout virtually every state and several foreign countries. For more information, visit www.abw.org.
