GHSA Announces Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award Winning High Schools for 2009

Georgia High School Association (GHSA) and Georgia Electric Membership Corporation (GEMC) today announce the 40 GHSA-member high schools that will receive the 2009 GEMC Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award honoring exemplary sportsmanship demonstrated during the 2008-09 school year.

"Awards that are given for the demonstration of good sportsmanship at high school athletic events are some of the most prestigious awards that a GHSA school can receive, “said Dr. Ralph Swearngin, GHSA Executive Director. “This is a distinction that recognizes the outstanding behavior of students, coaches, administrators, and fans. Congratulations to the recipients!"

Sponsored by GHSA and Georgia’s EMCs, the Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award program was introduced in 2006 to honor GHSA-member schools that exhibit outstanding sportsmanship. The awards program is designed to promote sportsmanship by honoring those who do it well, reinforcing GHSA’s philosophy: “Student 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 program honors student athletes along with fellow students, school staff, parents and game spectators, making the award not only a school but a community honor.
The Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Awards are presented annually to GHSA-member high schools in the 40 regions in all five classifications. Region GHSA secretaries select winners based on sportsmanship demonstrated during the year.

Representatives from the EMCs will present sportsmanship trophies to winning high schools within their service territories at presentations during fall athletic events. Winners of the 2009 GEMC Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Awards include:

Region Winners

1-AAAAA   Tift County High School
3-AAAAA   Camden County High School
4-AAAAA   Newnan High School
5-AAAAA   Etowah High School
6-AAAAA   Milton High School
7-AAAAA   Duluth High School
8-AAAAA   Dacula High School

1-AAAA   Jones County High School
2-AAAA   Glynn Academy
3-AAAA   Westside High School, Augusta
4-AAAA   Alcovy High School
5-AAAA   Northgate High School
6-AAAA   Forsyth Central High School
7-AAAA   Allatoona High School
8-AAAA   Monroe Area High School

1-AAA   Cairo High School
2-AAA   Northside High School, Columbus
3-AAA   Washington County High School
4-AAA   Eagles Landing High School
5-AAA   St. Pius X High School
6-AAA   Heritage High School, Catoosa
7-AAA   West Forsyth High School
8-AAA   Jackson County High School / Oconee County High School

1-AA   Early County High School
2-AA   Charlton County High School
3-AA   Screven County High School
4-AA   Northeast High School, Macon
5-AA   Manchester High School
6-AA   Decatur High School
7-AA   Rockmart High School
8-AA   Rabun County High School

1-A   Ware County Magnet High School
2-A   Schley County High School
3-A   Metter High School
4-A   Washington-Wilkes High School
5-A   Our Lady of Mercy High School
6-A   Mt. Zion High School, Carroll
7-A   Providence Christian School
8-A   Tallulah Falls High School

A voluntary organization composed of more than 400 public and private high schools, the Georgia High School Association strives to promote good sportsmanship and a cooperative spirit among its member schools.

Georgia EMC is a statewide trade organization representing the state’s 42 EMCs, Oglethorpe Power Corp. and Georgia Transmission Corp. Through a statewide network, Georgia’s EMCs provide electricity and related services to four million people, nearly half of Georgia’s population, 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.