The town of Huntsville, a 2004 True Sport recognized community has taken one of the first steps in integrating True Sport into all of their community sport activities. This first step involves the creation of a True Sport Scholarship Program in the amount of one thousand dollars. This scholarship recognizes high school athletes who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in exhibiting the True Sport values of fairness, inclusion and excellence. Recipients are also students who have contributed to sport in the community inspiring other Huntsville High School athletes to do the same.
This inaugural award has two major contributors who together have made this scholarship a reality. Mr. Richard Swift, the owner of Algonquin Outfitters and an anonymous donour from the community of Huntsville. The recipient of the first True Sport Scholarship is Amanda Orr.
Profile
Amanda Orr "I have never missed a practice or game or homework assignment because I didn't want to be there, even though lots of times I didn't. These are my responsibilities. I committed to them when I agreed to be there."
Amanda Orr is a graduating student from Huntsville High School (2004). In the fall, Amanda will be continuing her studies at Seneca College where she plans to study Social Service, more specifically in the field of Gerontology.
Amanda has a long history of participation in sport as both an avid athlete and as a volunteer. She has played on multiple teams throughout her five years at Huntsville High School including soccer and basketball. She also became certified as a referee for the Huntsville Soccer Club after finding out they were desperately in need of officials and Amanda often goes beyond her officiating responsibilities to help out the team.
Amanda has been the recipient of many awards in addition to the True Sport Scholarship including the Huntsville High School Athletic Award for senior girls basketball MVP and senior girl's Sportswoman of the Year. She has also been presented with the Dr. James Naismith Award of Merit, the most outstanding basketball player award and the Huntsville High School athlete of the month award on two separate occasions.
Amanda has said that her family members are all strong believers in volunteering in the community and she has followed their example by lending her time to many projects. In public school Amanda describes herself as one of the "gym rats", always helping out her gym teacher and often coaching or refereeing during lunchtime activities. More recently, Amanda and her mother have donated their time to a project in which they built 4 portable mini putt courses for the residents of a local retirement home. In order to achieve this Amanda raised the required $900 and liaised with the high school construction class to build the courses.
Amandas work ethic, determination and commitment to True Sport are inspirational to Huntsville and Canadian youth who aspire to be the best they can be. Congratulations to Amanda Orr, the first recipient of the True Sport Scholarship.
For more information please contact:
Mr. John Cowan
Huntsville Sports Council
Telephone: (705) 635-9646
Email jscowan@sympatico.ca
