The Michigan High School Athletic Association has selected eight student-athletes from Class B member schools to receive scholarships through the MHSAA/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Award program. 

 

Farm Bureau Insurance, in its 32nd year of sponsoring the award, will give $1,000 college scholarships to 32 individuals who represent their member schools in at least one sport in which the Association sponsors a postseason tournament. The first 30 scholarships are awarded proportionately by school classification and the number of student-athletes involved in those classes; also, there are two at-large honorees who can come from any classification.

 

Students applying for the Scholar-Athlete Award must be carrying at least a 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) grade-point average and have previously won a letter in a varsity sport in which the Michigan High School Athletic Association sponsors a postseason tournament. Other requirements for the applicants were to show active participation in other school and community activities and produce an essay on the importance of sportsmanship in educational athletics.

 

Each of the scholarship recipients will be honored during an online ceremony later this winter. Commemorative medallions will be given to the finalists in recognition of their accomplishments.

 

Hudson Alexander Harkness, Newaygo
Hudson Alexander Harkness played three seasons of varsity football, is playing varsity basketball this winter, and will play his third season of varsity baseball this spring.

Hudson served as captain of varsity football and baseball and junior varsity football and basketball teams, and made all-league for football while serving as class president for fourth year.

Hudson is participating in his second year of National Honor Society and has earned college credit in leadership from George Mason University. He is serving as yearbook editor for the third year and was selected as National Youth Correspondent for Washington Journalism & Media Conference at George Mason. He has had articles and news segments published by local media.

Hudson has also volunteered throughout high school as West Michigan Miracle League announcer and earned school’s Community Service Award while participating in the second year of the College Ambassador program where he served as the assistant community service director.

Hudson is attending Northwood University to study sports management in Fall of 2021.

 

Essay Quote: “With parents, students, and athletes yelling at officials throughout the entire game, it is sad to see the lack of sportsmanship in today's games. Sportsmanship isn’t just about being respectful to the other team but respecting officials too. … When I see or hear other people yelling at an official I think to myself “how stupid.” These men and women give up times to make sure we can play and learn to love the game. Without them, we would have no games.”