4/27/2010
For the seventh year, the Indiana High School Athletic Association is proud to recognize 12 senior student-athletes to be honored with the 2010 IHSAA / C. Eugene Cato Memorial Scholarship Awards.
Each recipient will receive a $2,500 scholarship for their prep accomplishments and be recognized on Thursday, April 29, 2010, at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in downtown Indianapolis as a part of the Methodist Sports Medicine’s Annual Thomas A. Brady Achievement Awards Banquet.
To reward the efforts of Indiana’s complete student-athletes, the IHSAA, Methodist Sports Medicine – The Orthopedic Specialists, the Indianapolis Colts, Comcast, Sport Graphics and Taco Bell have all partnered in sponsoring the program which highlights those well-rounded, positive role models who have demonstrated excellence in academics, school and community involvement, character, sportsmanship and citizenship.
This year’s honorees, listed in alphabetical order, include: Seth Brown, Hammond; Maria Cochran, Providence; Jacob Daghe, Speedway; Evan Daily, Pioneer; Christian Duncheon, Barr-Reeve; Keilor Gilbert, Eastern Greene; Casey Hueni, Bremen; Cara McCauley, North Montgomery; Stephen Roberts, Greenfield-Central; William Sievern, Evansville Memorial; Kendall Smith, Decatur Central and; Daniel Wodicka, West Lafayette.
Each student had to meet certain criteria to qualify including: 1) be enrolled and participating in interscholastic athletics at an IHSAA member school during the 2009-10 school year; 2) be a senior at an IHSAA member school who will graduate during the 2009-10 school year; 3) win a varsity letter as an athlete in at least one of the 20 IHSAA sanctioned athletic programs; 4) be nominated by the school’s principal; 5) carry a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale or the equivalent; 6) have no violations of the school’s athletic code of conduct; 7) must not have been ejected from any IHSAA contest due to unsportsmanlike behavior and; 8) verify that he/she has made a commitment to remain substance free throughout high school.
A panel of five individuals, through much time and effort, decided upon the deserving students. That panel consisted of: Dr. Tony Bennett, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction, Indiana Department of Education; Dr. Mark DeCarlo, Vice President of Clinical Services, Methodist Sports Medicine; Tom Faulconer, Senior Vice President, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance; Bob Kanaby, Executive Director, National Federation of State High School Associations; and; Blake Ress, Commissioner, Indiana High School Athletic Association.
Since 2003-04 when the IHSAA celebrated its 100th year, the annual awards were known as the Centennial Scholarships. This year, the program has been renamed in tribute to the late former IHSAA Commissioner C. Eugene Cato. “Gene” served as assistant commissioner of the Association from 1976 until he became commissioner in 1983 - providing leadership until he retired in 1995. His passion for athletics and his belief in the intrinsic value of athletic competition on the formation of a child’s character enabled Gene to positively impact generations of young men and women with his wellknown “Firm, Fair, and Friendly” approach to caring for others. He passed away in 2008.
Through the awards program, the IHSAA has recognized 77 outstanding student-athletes with scholarships totaling
$192,500.
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