Samantha Teachworth Named MHSAA Scholar-Athlete Award Recipient

The Michigan High School Athletic Association has announced that Samantha Teachworth, a senior at St. Patrick School, has been selected as one of 10 student-athletes from Class C and D member schools to receive scholarships through the MHSAA/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Award program.

Farm Bureau Insurance, in its 31st year of sponsoring the award, will give $1,000 college scholarships to 32 individuals who represent their member schools in at least one sport in which the Association sponsors a postseason tournament. The first 30 scholarships are awarded proportionately by school classification and the number of student-athletes involved in those classes; also, there are two at-large honorees who can come from any classification.

Students applying for the Scholar-Athlete Award must be carrying at least a 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) grade-point average and have previously won a letter in a varsity sport in which the Michigan High School Athletic Association sponsors a postseason tournament. Other requirements for the applicants were to show active participation in other school and community activities and produce an essay on the importance of sportsmanship in educational athletics.

Each of the scholarship recipients will be honored at a halftime ceremony during the Division 3 Boys Basketball Final, March 28, at the Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing. Commemorative medallions will be given to the finalists in recognition of their accomplishments.

A release from the MHSAA said that Samantha, “Played four season of varsity volleyball, is playing her third of varsity basketball and will play her fourth of varsity softball in the spring. Earned all-league recognition in volleyball and softball and has captained all three of her varsity teams. Helped volleyball team to Regional championship and basketball team to District title. Participating in third year of National Honor Society and serving this year as president of the school’s Student Advisory Committee. Also has served as president of the Ionia Future Farmers of America chapter and multiple 4-H clubs, as a church alter server prefect and township election official. Received various FFA awards and was recipient of the FFA’s Washington Leadership Conference Scholarship. Will attend Aquinas College and study political science.

In an essay submitted with her application for the scholarship, Teachworth said, “When it comes to organized sports, I feel sportsmanship is one of the first things that should be taught. It is an issue that makes me nervous for the future of sports. … I watched my brother’s third-grade basketball game where a parent was getting so upset about the calls, he would follow a 15-year-old referee on the court to yell at him. It becomes a matter of self-control. We have to realize that at the end of the day, it is a game.”

St. Patrick Athletic Director Patrick Russman told the Beacon, “We are very proud of Samanatha as a representative of St. Patrick School, Athletics and Parish. Samantha always brings great energy and a great presence to our athletic programs. She contributes athletically at a high level to each team whether it is volleyball, basketball or softball. Her talents and gifts make her positively stand out.”

Russman added, “Her immeasurable gifts come in the form of joy and positive energy that she brings to each day and each activity she is involved in. It is great to see the balance Samantha has in her life: she lives her Catholic faith, she loves her family and friends, takes academics seriously, she is a gifted athlete, and fully lives life. Congratulations to Samantha and her family on her accomplishment of being selected as a Scholar Athlete she is very deserving of this award.”

Assistant Shamrock basketball coach Michelle Smith said, “Samee is an outstanding leader and representative of St Patrick’s school and parish. She is most deserving of this award and we couldn’t be more proud of her accomplishments.”