Vaught's Views: Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year finalists announced

There’s no better reminder about why I enjoy my job so much that the end of the high school sports year when the area’s top athletes and scholar-athletes are honored.
Each year there are so many deserving winners and the accomplishments of the scholar-athlete nominees can be mind boggling as they are this year.
Just take a look at some of the female scholar-athlete of the year nominees — and remember not only could each school’s athletics director nominate a candidate, but readers could also submit nominees for the award sponsored by Danville Office Equipment.
Courtney True, Mercer County.
The standout softball player has a 3.63 grade-point average and will be a speech language pathology major at the University of Kentucky.
She belongs to Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Pep Club, Key Club and Poetry Club. She has won numerous academic awards and has been a volunteer for such things as Harrodsburg Baptist Church Community Days of Service, Kids Can Do Camp and various sports camps. She even did her peer tutoring class with children that had physical and mental disabilities.
Lindsey Edwards, Boyle County.
The junior softball player has a 3.947 grade-point average while taking advance placement courses and has already made a 29 on her ACT. She has volunteered with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and has been involved with a mentoring program at CVS Pharmacy to give her a look at what being a pharmacist would be like.
Hannah Miniard, Garrard County.
She’s another standout softball player and dominant pitcher and hitter. The sophomore has a 4.0 GPA and will be Beta Club vice-president next year. She is a member of Spanish Club, Future Business Leaders of American, Teens Against Tobacco Use and Buena Vista Baptist Church youth group.
Taylor Readnower, Mercer County.
A softball and basketball player, she has a 3.69 GPA and was first in the 2011 HOSA state competition in the clinical speciality division. She’s a member of Beta Club, FCA, and 4-H Leadership and officer in both Beta Club and HOSA. She’s been a volunteer at the Wilderness Trace YMCA Junior Camp, Craig Yeasts Elite Skills Football Camp and Family Resource Center.
n Lucinda Combs, Boyle County.
This junior goalkeeper has a 4.0 GPA and has scored a 30 on the ACT. She earned numerous athletic honors last season.
Emma Holland, Burgin.
Her 4.05 GPA ranks her first in her class academically — she made a 33 on her ACT — and she is a member of Spanish Honor Society and National Honor Society as well as junior class treasurer. She’s a three-time academic all-state selection in track and cross country.
n Spencer Overstreet, Garrard County.
The basketball-volleyball player has made all A’s while taking honors c lasses and ranks second in her class academically with a GPA of 4.024.
Korey Coleman, Lincoln County.
The senior, who played basketball and golf, has a 4.4 grade-point average and was on the All “A” honor roll four straight years. She’s won various academic awards and was the Kentucky Farm Bureau Outstanding Youth regional winner and is a member of Music Club, Pep Club, FCA and Student Council.
Then there is former Boyle County tennis ace CeCe Witten, who bypassed her final semester of high school eligibility to enroll at Kentucky where she played on the tennis team this spring and also had a perfect 4.0 GPA.
“I have taught CeCe her freshman, sophomore and junior years. She is a joy to have in class and a very hard worker. While I know that she only played one sport, she played that sport all year long throughout the country,” said Boyle Spanish teacher Heather Wheeler. “What has always been remarkable to me is the fact that she was so successful academically while traveling weekends in a row. And she was remarkable in the most difficult classes that BCHS had to offer. It is proper perspective and dedication to her sport and her school work that has allowed her to reach her goals. CeCe is a role model for anyone who has a dream in any realm.”
Wheeler wanted to nominate Witten for both athlete of the year as well as scholar-athlete of the year, honors she certainly may have won if she had completed her senior year. Still, I thought Wheeler’s comments were worth sharing because it showed how remarkable Witten was academically and athletically — just like these other nominees are.
Both the male and female scholar athletes of the year will be announced later this month as will the overall male and female athletes of the year, who this year are also strong enough academically that they were seriously considered for scholar athletes of the year.