The Ninth Annual Vincent J. Dooley Awards and Scholarships Recipients for school year 2015-2016

Regan Sikes of Pierce County High School, and Jack McRae III of Grace Christian Academy were named as the recipients of the four-year scholarship of $1000 per year by legendary Coach Vince Dooley on May 7, 2016 at a lunch ceremony held at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. Nearly 500 student-athletes and guests attended the event which featured inspirational messages from Coach Dooley, ABW Founder/President Fred Northup, and Carror Wright of the Georgia High School Association. All guests enjoyed a self-guided tour of the Hall, compliments of the Chick-fil-A Foundation. The Scott Hudgens Foundation was once again the Presenting Sponsor for the event.

Ms. Sikes distinguished herself in and out of the classroom by achieving a 4.0 average while lettering in tennis, track, and softball, the latter pursuit earning her Player of the Year honors in Region 1AAA. Regan participates in CureSearch cancer walks, mission trips to the Dominican Republic, Special Olympics, and Sycamore Tree for those in need. She was elected Class President, is Secretary of the First Southern Bank Junior Board of Directors, and was chosen to be a delegate for the REMC Washington DC Youth Tour. Regan selected Mattie’s Mission in Waycross, Georgia as her recipient of a $500 donation from Athletes for a Better World as a part of the Dooley Scholarship. She will attend Armstrong Atlantic University.

Mr. McRae is his school’s all-time leading scorer in basketball, and also excelled at soccer, tennis, and track. This 4.0 Valedictorian extended his passion for science by completing an internship at Florida State’s Biomedical program, helping him to earn an award from the Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Washington, DC. His DAR Good Citizen Award by a faculty vote was a result of numerous clothing and food drives, as well as tutoring young students of migrant workers. Jack’s selfless charity work was again rewarded by being named as a recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award, Washington, DC. He has designated Friendship House of Jesus in Bainbridge, Georgia as his recipient of a $500 donation from Athletes for a Better World as a part of the Dooley Scholarship. Jack will attend the University of Georgia.

The 2016 Scholarship Finalists were:

Male Finalists

1. David Brittingham, North Cobb Christian School
2. Jared Brown, Jefferson High School
3. Tyler Harper, Wesleyan School
4. Ian Hentenaar, Winder-Barrow High School
5. Alex Herndon, Calvary Day School
6. Will McCormick, First Presbyterian Day School
7. Emory McKenzie, Westover High School
8. Jordan McKinney, Dalton High School
9. Jack McRae III, Grace Christian Academy
10. Tyler Messer, Peach County High School

Female Finalists

1. Lauren Colston, Landmark Christian School
2. Harley Dawson, Long County High School
3. Sydney Hutto, Greenbrier High School
4. Mia Lester, Warren County High School
5. Calli McMullen, Georgia Military College Prep School
6. Ally Parker, Stratford Academy
7. Shania Reeves, Callaway High School
8. Jaclyn Regnery, Etowah High School
9. Sarah Roon, Archer High School
10. Regan Sikes, Pierce County High School

Congratulations to all the 2016 Dooley Award recipients: