Georgia Electric Membership Corporation (Georgia EMC) is proud to sponsor the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award and today announces the 37 GHSA-member high schools that will receive the 2012 award. The award honors schools that demonstrated exemplary sportsmanship during the 2011-2012 school year.
"Sportsmanship is an essential element in the mission of education-based athletics," said Dr. Ralph Swearngin, GHSA Executive Director. “Good sporting behavior involves many important values that influence the behavior of productive citizens. The GHSA appreciates the efforts of Georgia EMC to recognize schools that have excelled at good sportsmanship."
Since 2006, the GHSA and Georgia’s EMCs have sponsored the Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship award, which 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.” Schools around the state are honored for exhibiting exceptional sportsmanship during competitive events.
Student athletes, fellow students, school staff, parents and event spectators are recognized for the sportsmanship they display. The award is not only a school honor, but 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 awarded 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 2012 Georgia EMC Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award are: 
Region Winners
1-AAAAA Lowndes High School
3-AAAAA Windsor Forest High School
4-AAAAA Kennesaw Mountain High School
5-AAAAA Cherokee High School
6-AAAAA North Forsyth High School
7-AAAAA Duluth High School
8-AAAAA Berkmar High School
1-AAAA Thomas County Central High School
2-AAAA Richmond Hill High School
3-AAAA Ola High School
5-AAAA Pope High School
6-AAAA Marist School
7-AAAA South Forsyth High School
8-AAAA Winder-Barrow High School
1-AAA Monroe High School, Albany
2-AAA Perry High School
3-AAA Cross Creek High School
4-AAA Sandy Creek High School
5-AAA St. Pius X School
6-AAA Central-Carroll High School
7-AAA Gilmer High School
1-AA Thomasville High School
2-AA McIntosh County Academy
3-AA Southeast Bulloch High School
4-AA Northeast High School, Macon
5-AA Heard County High School
6-AA Blessed Trinity School
7-AA Armuchee High School
8-AA Dawson County High School
1-A Seminole County High School
2-A Charlton County High School
3-A Portal High School
5-A Providence Christian School
6-A Mt. Zion High School, Carrollton
7-A Glascock County High School
8-A Tallulah Falls High School
9-A Strong Rock Christian School
The GHSA is a voluntary organization comprised of more than 440 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 4.4 million of the state’s 9.7 million residents, across 73 percent of the state’s land area.