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May 4, 2006 Receiving the awards were Julia Chapman of Dorman High School and Josh Kirby of Landrum High School. The event was attended by students, coaches, athletics directors, and business and community leaders. WYFF News 4 Sports Director Geoff Hart and cameraman J.L. Watkins, who provided coverage of the 2006 Winter Olympics from Turin, Italy, for more than two dozen NBC affiliate stations across the country, were the featured speakers. They showed photographs and video and shared stories about their experiences during their 25-day stay in Italy. The Winners Circle Outstanding Student-Athlete Awards are presented by Team Spartanburg, the sports council of the Spartanburg Convention & Visitors Bureau to recognize athleticism, academic excellence and leadership. Winners, nominated by each school’s athletics directors, must have at least a 3.0 GPA, and must exhibit achievement in sports and academics as well as involvement in the community and/or school. Team Spartanburg, a volunteer organization, plans to recognize one male and one female student-athlete each quarter throughout the year. Julia Chapman has been named to the All-Region and All-Academic Soccer Team and was a Wendy’s High School Heisman semifinalist and state finalist. The three-year letter athlete has been captain and team manager since 10th grade. She is a National Merit Scholarship finalist, AP Scholar, National Hispanic Recognition Program finalist, Science Olympic medalist, a Wofford Scholar, a Jefferson Scholar nominee, a Presidential Scholarship semifinalist, assistant chief junior marshal and was named to the National Honor Roll. She holds a 5.15 GPA and scored 1490 on the SAT. She is a member and vice president of the National Honor Society; member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes; member, secretary and vice president of the Anchor Club; secretary of the Beta Club; and a member of the Key Club, the Medical Society and the Academic Team. She is a graduate of Junior Leadership Spartanburg. She also volunteers as a youth soccer coach, the Diocese of Charleston Youth Evangelization Team, and for Mobile Meals, the Soup Kitchen, Safe Homes and Rape Crisis Center. Josh Kirby is a three-sport athlete – football, track and wrestling. In football, he was All-Region in as a junior and senior and All-State as a senior. He also received the Captain Award, the Hawg Tuff Award, was named the SCHCA Upper State 1A Lineman of the Year, and was selected for the HSSR All-State team and the North-South All-Star Team. In track, he was the Spartanburg County Discus Champion, the Region 2A Discus Champion and was All-Region – all for two consecutive years. He received the Coaches Award in 2004 and the Most Improved Athlete Award in 2005. In wrestling, he was named Most Improved as a sophomore and received the Coaches Award as a junior. He also was named the 275-pound Region Champ. Academically, he holds a 4.27 GPA and received 1220 on his SAT. He is president of the Beta Club and a member of the Interact Club, Block L Club, Spanish Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He was on the A Honor Roll for four consecutive years. He is captain of the track team throwers, captain of the football team, was freshman and sophomore class president, and a graduate of Junior Leadership Spartanburg. He has been involved with a variety of community organizations. “Team Spartanburg is proud to recognize these student-athletes as examples of how athleticism, academics and commitment to school and community can make a difference,” says K.J. Jacobs (McMillan Smith & Partners Architects), a member of the Team Spartanburg Oversight Committee. “We build on the foundation of great athletics programs and great athletes as we work to enhance the Spartanburg community through assistance and recruitment of sports event.” Team Spartanburg’s mission is to promote Spartanburg as a destination for sports events. The sports council, made up of more than 100 volunteers, recruits new events and provides assistance to existing sports events. Team Spartanburg is supported by its partners: Champions – Coca-Cola, JM Smith Corp., Spartanburg Coca-Cola Bottling Co., City of Spartanburg, Wachovia MVPs – Celebrate Community/Herald-Journal, Radisson Hotel & Suites, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, Verizon Wireless, Wofford College All-Stars – Ogletree Deakins, Showcase Marketing, Shred First, Spartanburg Marriott at Renaissance Park, Spartanburg Methodist College, University of South Carolina Upstate For information about Team Spartanburg, go to www.teamspartanburgsc.org or contact Jules Bryant at (864) 594-5051 or laura.corbin@wofford.edu. Team Spartanburg |
SPARTANBURG, SC