Seniors Anna Claire Atha and Elijah McKoy have been selected to represent Darlington in the Rome-Floyd Parks & Recreation Authority's John Pinson Jr. Outstanding Student Athlete scholarship competition.
Named in memory of Rome-Floyd Sports Hall of Fame member John Pinson Jr., the scholarship award program recognizes two high school senior athletes in Rome and Floyd County annually with a $1,000 college scholarship.
Atha has played basketball for Darlington since sixth grade and has also participated in track and field the past two years. The Lady Tigers senior has previously been named as 2015 as a Rome News-Tribune All-Area Player of the Year, Georgia Athletic Coaches Association AA All-State first team member and as 7-AA Player of the Year. Atha has been a FCA Huddle Leader for the past four years and is currently serving as a member on the board of FCA Leaders of Rome, Ga. She is the daughter of Cathe and Tommy Atha of Rome.
"Anna Claire sets herself apart by showing her strong faith, care for community, desire to do the right thing and natural leadership skills," said Eddie Guth, Darlington's athletic director. "Her success can be attributed to hard work. She has had a lot to overcome having endured two knee surgeries and months of rehabilitation. Diligence and a determined attitude paid off and she officially signed with Wofford College on Nov. 9."
McKoy is a very well-rounded athlete and has served as a four-year member of the football, basketball and track and field teams. He played several positions in football including tailback, fullback, cornerback and safety and was recognized as Most Valuable Offensive Skill Player and Iron Tiger Champion in 2015 and as Team Captain in 2016. As a member of the track and field team, McKoy competed in the high jump, triple jump, 4x100, 400 meters, 4x400. He was recognized in 2015 as the Most Valuable Field Event Athlete and in 2016 placed eighth in the state high jump. The senior serves on the FCA Student Leadership Council and has made the Dean’s List at Darlington each year of high school. McKoy has a wealth of volunteer experience assisting with the McHenry Elementary School field day, Special Olympics, Young Life Camp and serving meals to those in need at Thanksgiving. He is the son of Ms. Patricia Kidd and Dr. Raymond McKoy of Rome.
"Elijah is always quick to lead and brings care and commitment to everything he does," added Guth. "He is unselfish and is quick to point out the accomplishments of his teammates rather than his own. He is a leader in the classroom and the athletic fields and makes Darlington a better place each day."
One female student and one male student will each be presented with a $1,000 scholarship at the Rome-Floyd Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet at Berry College on Feb. 27.
To be eligible for the award, candidates must have received local, area, regional or state recognition in athletics and be active in school and community organizations and activities. They must also have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, three letters of recommendation, and submit an essay about what it means to be a student-athlete. Each candidate will be scored based on individual scholastic achievement, individual athletic achievement, school and community involvement, and their essay.
