Three Southwest Michigan students have won scholarships from the MHSAA and Farm Bureau Insurance as part of the MHSAA’s Scholar Athlete Awards.
A total of 32 students across all four classes are receiving a $2,000 scholarship towards their future education. To qualify, students had to have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher and have won a letter in a varsity sport that the MHSAA sponsors a postseason tournament. Students also had to show other involvement in other school and community activities, and write an essay on the importance of sportsmanship in educational athletics.
In Class C. Kylie Ott of Bridgman was one of the winners, she played four years of volleyball at Bridgman, and is getting ready for her fourth season on the track and field team this spring, she’s also currently in her second season on the varsity basketball team. She was captain of the volleyball and basketball team, and in track she was academic all-state. And all-conference honorable mention in volleyball.
Kylie is a vice-president of the Bridgman chapter of the National Honor Society, four years of key club including serving as president, and Secretary of DECA.
She’s planning to attend Purdue University this fall to study biomechanical engineering.
Tristan B. Harbaugh from Gobles in another area winner. He’s played three seasons of varsity football, is playing his third year of varsity basketball, and will play his fourth year on the varsity baseball team this spring. Tristan was all conference in football and basketball, he was academic all-state in football and baseball, and was named a scholar-athlete by the Football Coaches Association. Tristan was named team captain for all three of his sports.
Tristan is on the Gobles National Honor Society, the Gobles student leadership team, and has also been a member of the Gobles band program, including marching band, jazz band and concert band, he’s the first chair percussionist, and section leader. He also volunteers during youth sports and also tutors.
Tristen will attend the University of Michigan in the fall and will also study biomechanical engineering.
Jack Lantz of New Buffalo was a finalist in Class C as well.
In Class D, Ben McCaw of Lawrence was a winner.
Ben has played four years of 8-man football at Lawrence, in fact he won the WSJM Sports Player of the Week during his junior year last year. He’s currently playing his second season on the Lawrence varsity basketball team and is to play his third season of varsity baseball and third season of varsity track and field this spring.
Ben was named all-conference, and academic all state in football, second team all-conference and academic all-conference in basketball, and was selected second team all-state in baseball. Ben has been a two year captain in football, basketball, and baseball. He’s currently dually enrolled at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and Earned College Board Rural and Small Town Award. He’s been his class president for three years and his the student council secretary.
In addition, ben has been on the National Honor Society for three years, and the pep club. Ben also spends time volunteering with Lawrence area youth sports.
Ben will also attend the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor next fall, he will focus his studies on marketing.
Hazel Hysell of Our Lady of the Lake, and Nathan Mihills of Marcellus were also finalists in Class D.
The MHSAA will honor all 32 of the MHSAA Scholar Athlete Award winners at the MHSAA Basketball finals on Saturday March 16 at the Breslin Center at Michigan State.
