Colley awards: Lee and Maulden win 25th annual J.O. “Tip” Colley Award Scholarship

Published 3:00 am Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Photo/mike hensley Hayes Lee and Laken Maulden were given the J.O. “Tip” Colley Award during a ceremony on Monday night at the Troy Recreation Center. Both winners were awarded with $1,500 scholarships.

Photo/mike hensley
Hayes Lee and Laken Maulden were given the J.O. “Tip” Colley Award during a ceremony on Monday night at the Troy Recreation Center. Both winners were awarded with $1,500 scholarships.

Adam Grice of Pike Liberal Arts and Chelsey Holland of Pike County were named runners up.

Both Maulden and Lee were awarded with a plaque and scholarship for $1,500 while the two runner-ups received a $500 Scholarship.

“It was definitely exciting,” Lee said. “It’s a very prestigious award, I was really excited about winning it.”

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For Maulden, winning the scholarship came as a surprise and with a lot of joy and excitement.

“It was exciting,” Maulden said. “I came in here not looking to win. We were up against a lot of smart, athletic kids. I was very excited.”

Through out their days in high school and even before, these two student athletes participated in numerous organizations that ranged from school groups to church groups. The award, resented by the Exchange Club, recognizes involvement in school, church and the community.

“I love church, I love God and I love being involved in church,” Maulden said. “Winning such a prestigious award makes everything worth it.”

“While all of us were doing these things we weren’t looking for awards,” Lee said. “This makes us feel good and it motivates us to keep going.

Both athletes have accomplished so much in school, both in the class room and in their given sports. Maulden was a captain of her volleyball and cheer leading teams and She signed a scholarship at Spring Hill College in Mobile where she will also play softball.

Lee was the team captain of the Patriots football team. In basketball, Lee was named to the All Tournament Team and he was named the Jonah McWaters Tournament MVP in baseball.

Even though high school is coming to a close, both Maulden and Lee hope and plan on continuing to be involved in the community and in church.

“I think everybody sets out to continue what they are doing,” Lee said. “They want to continue to get better and become the best they can be.”

“I am going to go out in the world and take with me everything that I have done,” Maulden said. “I’m going to take my leadership and God with me to better myself for where I am going.”

Even though both student athletes have accomplished so much throughout the four years in high school, both of them put this achievement near the top of the list in their exciting moments while in school.

“I would say it is probably third,” Maulden said. “I would have to say signing would be number one and graduating would probably be number two.”

“It’s really hard,” Lee said. “I would probably name it near the top. It has been a great experience.

Troy Trojan and current Montreal Alouettes football player, Bear Woods. Woods spoke continuing to work and be relentless in all aspects of your life. He spoke on the importance of setting a good example for your family and you community and the significance of putting God first in your life.