AWARDS FOR SCHOOLS AMONG HIGHLIGHT OF ANNUAL MEETING
CHAPEL HILL – Two major awards were presented to schools for the third year in a row at the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Annual Meeting at the Smith Center on the University of North Carolina campus.
Jack Britt High School of Fayetteville was named the third annual winner of the Exemplary School Award while Hendersonville High School earned the 2009 Sportsmanship Award.
The awards are given as a cooperative venture among the NCHSAA, the North Carolina Coaches Association and the North Carolina Athletic Directors Association. In addition to a trophy and a banner for display at the respective schools, each school received a $1000 cash award.
The Exemplary School Award recognizes the top overall school in the state in terms of the “total program,” including but not limited to athletic success, scope of athletic opportunities offered, facilities, community interest and involvement, academics and the like.
Jack Britt has recognized as a North Carolina School of Distinction or an Honor School of Excellence for each of the last seven years and has also won its conference Wachovia Cup in four of the last six years.
For several years every Britt team has qualified for postseason play and this year Britt teams have already earned five conference crowns. The school is on track to have all of its coaches complete the National Federation Fundamentals of Coaching Course and many of the school’s student-athletes have been involved in one of the NCHSAA student services programs.
Britt was recognized in 2008 by US News and World Report as one of the “Best Schools in America” winner.
The sportsmanship honor is designed to recognize a school that has been ejection free, has a plan to promote and implement good sportsmanship, is welcoming to visiting fans, makes appropriate accommodations for officials and their own fans demonstrate good sportsmanship.
Hendersonville has made treating the visiting fans and teams a priority but also emphasizes a great tradition of 108 years with great community support.
Sportsmanship is emphasized at preseason meetings and by individual coaches. The entire Hendersonville coaching staff has completed the National Federation coaching education course and many of the school’s varsity teams have completed the STAR Sportsmanship program offered through the NCHSAA.
In addition, Hendersonville has own more state Wachovia Cups (13) than any other school in NCHSAA history.
The process of selection for both the awards is a multi-tiered one, including nominations and feedback from schools to select finalists, and then the finalists submitted applications with specific information relative to their potential award.
Greenville’s J.H. Rose won the inaugural Exemplary School award in 2007 while North Duplin was the Sportsmanship winner. Last year Watauga won the Exemplary School while Asheboro earned the Sportsmanship honor.
