Being a great student-athlete usually means attention for great achievements on the field or court. But being an outstanding student-athlete means being a star in academics, leadership, athletics and community service!

To honor our local outstanding student-athletes, Columbus Regional recently hosted its 10th annual Student Athlete Achievement Banquet on April 27 at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center.

The 2010 awards were given to 72 middle and high school student-athletes from the Muscogee, Harris, Russell and Lee County area schools.

Kirby Smart, the defensive coordinator for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide’s football team, was the keynote speaker for the event.

Above and Beyond

The 72 student-athletes (a male and female from each school) were nominated by their coaches and principals.

Additionally, four students (a male and female each from middle school and high school nominees) were selected for the Above and Beyond award, which included:

• Chanté Barber (St. Anne Pacelli School)
• Aiyinde Lawrence (Russell County Middle School)
• Alex Robinson (Calvary Christian School)
• Madison Wilson (Veterans Memorial Middle School)

Each of the Above and Beyond winners was presented with a $500 savings bond from Synovus and Columbus Bank and Trust.

Additional schools and their honorees included:

• Arnold Magnet Academy: Katrell Smith and Georgia Barton
• Baker Middle School: DeVonte Randall and Octavia Fortson
• Blackmon Road Middle School: Brandon Vance and Rachel Patel
• Brookstone School (High School): Blake Hudson and Alstyne Gravelee
• Brookstone School (Middle School): Jack Mize and Caroline Sparks
• Calvary Christian School (High School): Alex Robinson and Olivia Whitehurst
• Calvary Christian School (Middle School): Clayton Barefield and Kendall Collins
• Carver High School: Clarence France and Jasmine Lee
• Central High School: Andrew Matthews and Portia Watkins
• Chattahoochee County High School: David Cochran III and Kristina Dixon
• Chattahoochee County Middle School: Nathan Hedgecoke and Kaitlyn Powell
• Columbus High School: Gregory Bingham and Amanda Stucky
• Double Churches Middle School: Joseph Garrett and Allison Holt
• East Columbus Magnet Academy: James Jones III and Raechel Lewis
• Eddy Middle School: Deondre Hubbard and Javasia Wheeler
• Fort Middle School: Antonio Jones and Gloria Stevens
• Hardaway High School: Austin Scott and Laura Chapman
• Harris County Carver Middle School: TaQuon Marshall and Sarah Howard
• Harris County High School: Joey DeNova and Sierra Bailey
• Jordan High School: Cordarryl Jones and Chelsea Conway
• Kendrick High School: Corwin Burrowes and Lauren Great
• Marshall Middle School: Jaquariez Scott and Tiquaja Brewer
• Midland Middle School: Jacob Deem and Lindsay Shirah
• Northside High School: Zach Zabel and Taylor Caldwell
• Richards Middle School: Aidan Sloan and Jacqueria Gunter
• Rothschild Middle School: Dante Harris and Alexia Manning
• Russell County Middle School: Aiyinde Lawrence and Tasha Upshaw
• Shaw High School: Dustin Averett and Charquisa Burnley
• Smiths Station High School: Josh Santos-Heard and Kaycee Gabler
• South Girard Middle School: Jeron Jones and Isia Jenkings
• Spencer High School: Damion Brown and Brendara Snipes
• St. Anne Pacelli School (High School): Michael O’Neal and Chanté Barber
• St. Anne Pacelli School: Michael Mansfield and Kyla Wright-Marshall
• St. Luke School: Trey Carpenter and Kate Mize
• Veterans Memorial Middle School: Joseph Bridges and Madison Wilson
• Wacoochee Junior High School: Nigel Lawrence and Lyndsey Vaughan