Trenton Student Named as Finalist in Scholar-Athlete Awards

One student is among 120 finalists for the Michigan High School Athletic Association's Scholar-Athlete Award for the 2011-12 school year.

Senior Abigail Wilson was picked from among 1,363 applicants submitted by Michigan schools. She was picked among 11 students submitted by .

Wilson has played basketball and soccer for Trenton High School.

The MHSAA Scholar-Athlete Program will honor 32 of the 120 finalists from MHSAA member schools who participate in at least one sport in which the association sponsors a postseason tournament. Farm Bureau Insurance underwrites the Scholar-Athlete Award, and will present a $1,000 scholarship to each recipient.

To be eligible for the award, students must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.50, and previously have won a varsity letter in at least one sport in which the MHSAA sponsors a postseason tournament. Students also were asked to respond to a series of short essay questions, submit two letters of recommendation and submit a 500-word essay on the importance of sportsmanship in educational athletics.

Since the beginning of the program in 1989-90, 544 scholarships have been awarded.

Scholarships will be presented proportionately by school classification, with 12 scholarships to be awarded to Class A student-athletes, six female and six male; eight scholarships will be awarded to Class B student-athletes, four female and four male; six scholarships will be awarded to Class C student-athletes, three female and three male; and four scholarships will be awarded to Class D student-athletes, two female and two male. In addition, there also will be two at-large honorees which also are part of the general judging process, may come from any classification, and are designated by their school at the time of entry.

Wilson is considered a Class A finalist.

The applications were judged by a 62-member committee of school coaches, counselors, faculty members, administrators and board members from MHSAA member schools. Selection of the 32 scholarship recipients will take place in early February.

To honor the 32 Scholar-Athlete Award recipients, a ceremony will take place during halftime of the Class C Boys Basketball Final, March 24 at the Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing.