HighSchool OT

Holiday Invitational

HighSchoolOT.com Invitational proceeds go to 10 scholarship winners

May 24, 2012

Ten college-bound student-athletes from the Triangle area have earned scholarships for their efforts in the community, in the classroom and on the playing field through the Triangle Educational Advancement Foundation.

All ten student-athletes will get $5,000 to use toward their first year’s college education at their school of acceptance.

This year’s winners are: Erin Kerr (Panther Creek High School – University of North Carolina Chapel Hill), Joe Mitchell (Jordan High School - UNC), Olivia Marinakis (East Wake High School – University of North Carolina - Wilmington), Kelly Glendenning (Cary High School - UNC), Jody Holm (Wake Forest-Rolesville High School - UNCW), Nick Baker (Princeton High School – Mount Olive College), Sidney Durand (Green Hope High School East Carolina University), Alexis Perry (Jordan – North Carolina State University), Canitria Cook (Franklinton High School - UNC) and Isaiah Avent (Wake Forest-Rolesville – Morehouse College).

To be eligible, students must fill out a questionnaire outlining community service and outreach involvement, academic achievement and awards with included transcripts and athletic participation and accomplishments. They are also required to write an essay detailing leadership and high-character qualities as well as financial needs.

TEAF is a non-profit organization established in 1994 to oversee the GlaxoSmithKline Holiday Invitational which was renamed in 2011 to the HighSchoolOT.com Holiday Invitational.

Since the tournament's inception, proceeds and gifts from GSK and HighSchoolOT.com have totaled more than $1 million.

About the winners:

Erin Kerr: Member of 11 different school organizations in addition to track and cross country teams. A straight-A student over all four years of high school, Kerr has logged over 880 hours of community service.

Joe Mitchell: A four-year letter winner in lacrosse, Mitchell was named 1st Team All-Conference twice. Mitchell holds a 3.91 GPA and has earned an AP Scholar Award among nearly a dozen other academic honors.

Olivia Marinakis: A three-sport athlete, Marinakis is a captain on the swimming and soccer teams. She is also the student body treasurer and a member of six other school organizations. She boasts a 3.89 GPA and has volunteered for numerous activities including Relay 4 Life and the Special Olympics.

Kelly Glendenning: Holding a 3.89 GPA, Glendenning is also president of the Honor Society and FCA as well as Editor-in-Chief of the Yearbook. She is a four-year Academic All-Conference and was captain of the soccer, cross country and swimming & diving teams.

Jody Holm: A 3.9 student who plays basketball, volleyball and soccer, Holm is also active in Honor Society and Key Club. She is involved in assisting special needs kids and helped in the planning of the Special Needs Prom.

Nick Baker: Diagnosed with a brittle bone disease as a kid, Baker stayed active in athletics through sports medicine and training programs throughout high school as well as serving as a scorekeeper for the baseball team. Baker is active in eight school organizations and has contributed nearly 100 hours of community service earning leadership recognition and scholarships.

Sidney Durand: A three-port varsity performer, Durand was a winner of Tom Suiter’s Extra Effort Award in May 2012. Durand is a 3.75 student and active in nearly a dozen school organization as well as multiple volunteer organizations.

Alexis Perry: Also a winner of Tom Suiter’s Extra Effort Award, Perry will attend NC State next year on a partial track & field scholarship. Perry is active in the community, volunteering at food banks, elementary schools and cheer camps.

Canitria Cook: a 3.91-student, Cook is active in six school organizations including Leadership, Honor Society and Key Club. She is also a three-sport athlete who has garnered All-Conference considerations.

Isaiah Avent: A football and track athlete, Avent has volunteered with many organizations providing food services. He is also a two-year vice president of the Achievers Society and member of the Honor Society.

• Web Editor: Aaron Schoonmaker