Georgia Electric Membership Corporation (GEMC) is proud to sponsor the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award and today announces the 40 GHSA-member high schools that will receive the 2011 award. The award honors schools that demonstrated exemplary sportsmanship during the 2010-2011 school year. "Media reports across our nation show us that people do not always interact with each other in a civil manner, said Dr. Ralph Swearngin, Executive Director for the GHSA. “The Georgia High School Association believes that some progress can be made in reversing that trend by emphasizing good sportsmanship in our athletic events. The GHSA appreciates its partnership with GEMC so that those who do practice good sportsmanship can be rewarded." Introduced in 2006 and sponsored by the GHSA and Georgia’s EMCs, the Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship award reinforces the GHSA philosophy: “Students, athletes, coaches, spectators and all others associated with high school activities programs should adhere to the fundamental values of respect, fairness, honesty and responsibility.” The award honors schools around the state that exhibit exceptional sportsmanship during competitive events. By honoring student athletes, fellow students, school staff, parents and event spectators, the award is not only a school honor, but also a community honor as well. The GHSA region secretaries select winners based upon the sportsmanship demonstrated throughout the school year. Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Awards are presented annually to the GHSA-member high schools in the 40 regions from the five classifications by representatives from the EMCs during fall athletic events and school assemblies.
Winners of the 2011 Georgia EMC Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award are: 
Region Winners
1-AAAAA Tift County High School
2-AAAAA Luella High School
3-AAAAA Johnson High School, Savannah
4-AAAAA Pebblebrook High School
5-AAAAA Etowah High School
6-AAAAA Northview High School
7-AAAAA Mountain View High School
8-AAAAA Archer High School
1-AAAA Thomas County Central High School
2-AAAA South Effingham County High School
3-AAAA Woodland, Stockbridge High School
4-AAAA Creekside High School
5-AAAA Chapel Hill High School
6-AAAA Redan High School
7-AAAA Forsyth Central High School
8-AAAA Habersham Central High School
1-AAA Cairo High School
2-AAA Rutland High School
3-AAA Harlem High School
4-AAA Locust Grove High School
5-AAA Riverwood High School/Columbia High School
6-AAA Haralson County High School
7-AAA Ringgold High School
1-AA Early County High School
2-AA Pierce County High School
3-AA East Laurens High School
4-AA Lamar County High School
5-AA Jordan High School
6-AA Cross Keys High School
7-AA Model High School
8-AA Jefferson High School
1-A Terrell County High School
2-A Telfair County High School
3-A Treutlen High School
4-A Schley County High School
5-A Providence Christian School
6-A Mt. Zion High School, Carrollton
7-A Glascock County High School
8-A Athens Academy
9-A Our Lady of Mercy High School
The GHSA is a voluntary organization comprised of more than 400 public and private high schools that strives to promote good sportsmanship and a cooperative spirit among its member schools. Georgia EMC is a statewide trade association representing the state’s 42 EMCs, Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia Transmission Corp. and Georgia System Operations Corp. Through a statewide network, Georgia’s EMCs provide electricity and related services to approximately 4.5 million of the state’s 9.7 million residents, across 73 percent of the state’s land area. Georgia’s 42 electric membership cooperatives serve more customers than any other state network of EMCs in the nation.
