By Tony Burns
Sports Editor
SMACKOVER - Smackover’s Reagan Richardson claimed top honors Thursday at the Arkansas Activities Association Interscholastic Star Scholarship Awards. The junior was one of five finalists to interview in front of a panel last week in Little Rock.
Richardson was awarded a $1000 scholarship. Joseph Wittig of Greenwood ($500), Cesar Carreno of Siloam Springs ($300), Brianna Martindill of Beebe ($300) and Zkiah Kuykendall of Blytheville (($300) were the other finalists.
“It was awesome,” said Richardson. “It kind of gives me a validation that the hard work has paid off and how everything I’ve been doing is worth it.”
Richardson is the starting shortstop for Smackover’s conference champion softball team and a member of the 3A state champion cheerleading squad. She owns a 4.0882 grade point average.
The Interscholastic Star Scholarship Awards recognizes students whose attitudes and actions make their school a better place. These students contribute to their school and community by exemplifying what are called the Three A’s.
•Active Involvement in school activities and community service.
•Adaptability to meet challenging situations with courage, perseverance and commitment; and an
•Attitude of cooperation, dependability and application of interpersonal skills.
Each school was asked to nominate one junior student-athlete for the award. Richardson said she wrote an essay on the aforementioned Three A’s and was selected as one of the top five finalists.
“It’s a huge accomplishment to win this award because it was state-wide to all juniors,” said Smackover softball coach Dennis Steele. “It’s Smackover’s first qualifier and winner so it was definitely a honor.”