The winners of the J.O. “Tip” Colley Scholastic Christian Athletic Award were announced at the annual banquet Monday.

Of 22 nominee from all four area high schools, Pike Liberal Arts School’s Eady Pinckard and Parker Smith were the winners of the scholarship that honors Christian student athletes who have excelled academically.

The award includes a $1,500 cash scholarship, a plaque slating their achievement and their names engraved on trophies, which will be displayed at their high school.

“It’s a great honor,” Pinckard said. “I’ve always heard about students from my school and other schools around the area getting this award, and it’s an honor to be part of that.”

“I’ve always looked up to (those honored before me), and I’ve always just wanted to be able to be recognized as part of this group,” Smith said.

The two winners said the scholarship that comes with the award will be of tremendous help.

The runner-ups this year are Rebecca Farrar and Justin McLaughlin, who are also from Pike Liberal Arts School.

This means that out of the 22 nominees spanning from all four Pike County high schools, all four scholarship recipients honored at the banquet are graduating seniors from Pike County Liberal Arts School.

According to Jerry Miller, chairman of the J.O. “Tip” Colley Committee, the committee receives nominations without names or school affiliations in order to keep the selection process “as open and fair as it can be.”

“The committee receives the nominees without any names, without any school affiliations,” Miller said. “They only know the candidates with a number, and it is from that they begin the selection process.”

Pinckard said she thinks the award winning sweep by her school says a lot about what the school represents. “I think it says that our school is Christian based, and I think that’s what our school stands for,” Pinckard said.

“We’re both really involved (in Christian activities) at our school,” Smith said.

Along with being an athlete, Smith has also been a youth pastor, and he was honored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes just last week. A Troy University representative also came up to offer an additional opportunity for the two award winners. An additional $500 scholarship will be given to the award recipients if they chose to go to Troy University. As of right now, Pinckard plans on attending Auburn University and Smith plans on attending Troy University.