Meri Grace Carson

Parents: Michael and Mary Ann Carson

Class Rank: 25/167

Type Course: Advanced, CCP, AP

School: Miami Trace High School

Sports: Varsity Golf, Varsity Track, JV Cheerleading, Club Acrobatics

Part I – Athletics

Sport: Golf No. Years 2, Varsity Letters 2

Sport: Track No. Years 1, Varsity Letters 1

Sport: Cheerleading No. Years 2 Varsity Letters 0

Sport: Acrobatic Gymnastics No. Years 6 Varsity Letters Club Sport

What special awards did this candidate receive as an athlete?

Scholar Athlete- 2015-2019

Spring 2019 (Track)— I throw shot put and discus. This is my first time ever competing in track and I have truly enjoyed the experience of learning a new sport that is out of my comfort zone. I was still recovering from hernia surgery at the beginning of the season so that was a setback.

Fall 2018 (Golf)—In the sport of golf I was a member of the second girls team to ever qualify for Districts. I was also the team captain for the 2018 season. Helped to encourage my other teammates who were all freshman excluding myself. My total scoring average dropped 15 strokes from the beginning of the season to the conclusion of the season. I played through the season recovering from an appendectomy all the while needing to have a hernia in my stomach repaired but I waited until the conclusion of the season to be able to contribute to my team.

Fall 2016 (Golf)— Varsity Letter in golf. First year ever picking up a golf club as a sophomore in high school.

Fall, Winter 2015-2017 (Cheerleading)— I was a member of the JV Cheerleading Squad for the Football season in 2015, as well as the Basketball season for 2016 & 2017. My time as a cheerleader allowed me to develop school spirit for Miami Trace that I have carried with me as a student section leader and a member of the student body.

2013-2018 (Acrobatics)— I am involved with Aerial’s Athletics which is located in Wilmington, Ohio. At Aerial’s I was a member of the Sports Acrobatics team which is a discipline of USA Gymnastics. My travels with the acro team gave me many life experiences and opportunities competing around the country at many international, national, regional, and local competitions. Some of my accomplishments in USA Gymnastics involve being a 3 time National medalist, 6 time Regional medalist, and 6 time State medalist. I received the High Scoring Regional Award 2 years in a row. I have also attended the Vegas Acro Cup in February of 2018 where I was competing against competitors from 8 different countries. My training in acro consisted of roughly 10 hours per week year round which is one of the limitations and reasons why I was never as involved in sports at Miami Trace High School although I would never trade my experiences at Aerial’s and I am extremely appreciative of the support system I developed through my time competing in Acro.

Statistics

Frontier Athletic Conference, 6th place finish Girls Shot Put, 2019

Part II – Scholastic

Grade point average: 3.5

Scholastic Awards: (National Honor Society, for example):

National Honor Society

I Dare You Award through the American Youth Foundation

Honor Roll (2015-2019)

Perfect Attendance

Buckeye Girls State Alternate

Enrolled in CCP and AP courses

School-related projects (State Science Fair, library/office assistant, for example)

Video Production Member- work to film sporting events/high school events

Concessions-Work for Academic Boosters Club in concessions

Miami Trace Wrestling Stat Girl (2018-2019 Season)

Costa Rica Spanish Club Trip 2018

Teachers Assistant

Community Service Projects through participation in FFA – Paint the Town Pink, Adopt a Highway, Farm to Fork Dinner, Operation Christmas Child, Blood Drive as volunteer and donor, Fall Harvest Days,

Part III – Leadership

List membership in and/or leadership roles held in any club, church, community or school organization. (Also not community projects)

Miami Trace FFA (9-12) President, Reporter, Student Development Officer

State FFA Degree Recipient, 2nd Place Ohio FFA Proficiency Award, MT FFA Star Greenhand, MT FFA Chapter Star Farmer, Parliamentary Procedure Team – State Champions (2018), National Parliamentary Procedure Competitor, State FFA Officer Candidate, Top Ten FFA Fruit Salesperson (2015-19), Top Strawberry Salesperson (2018, 2019). Agronomy Team – State Runner Up (2019), National Models of Excellence Interviewee, State Models of Excellence Interviews (2017, 2018) Greenhand Quiz – 8th Place in State (2015),

Fayette County Junior Fairboard (2015-2019) President(19), Vice President (18)

2019 Fayette County Pork Queen

Pigs-n-Things 4-H Club (2013-2019)- President (17,18,19), Secretary (16)

Crossroads Christian Church Missions Team to Haiti (2014, 2015)

Crossroads Christian Church Youth Group (2013-2019)

Employed at Aerial’s Athletics (2016-2019) – teaching gymnastics ages 3-19

Fayette County 4-H Camp Counselor

National Junior Swine Association Member (2004-2019)

Miami Trace Student Government (9-12)

Miami Trace Class Officer-Treasurer (11)

Miami Trace Key Club (12)

Miami Trace Choir Program (9,10)

Miami Trace Spanish Club (10,11)

Miami Trace Spring Musical (9)

Miami Trace Show Choir (9,10)

Coach’s comments concerning leadership abilities

Meri Grace Carson was our only senior, but not our lowest scoring golfer. She was definitely the leader of the team. She showed up to practice everyday ready to learn and grow. Part of being a leader is being coachable, and Meri Grace was the most coachable kid on the team. Her improvement in scoring reflected her coachability. She started the year shooting high 60s on 9-holes to finishing at Districts with a She knew that her attitude was being watched by the other girls and she always carried herself in a way that was encouraging to others. Her determination and encouragement of the other ladies definitely helped lift the rest of the team to be able to compete at a higher level. Meri Grace was also the team rules enforcer, she would help keep the team inline. She exhibited leadership also through helping the girls with homework on road trips. Meri Grace served as our team captain, doing whatever ever she could to make the team better.

Todd Wallace, MT Girls Golf Coach

It is an honor to recommend Meri Grace Carson of Miami Trace, for the 2019 Christman Award. In my dealings with Meri Grace, as her teacher inside of the classroom and her coach outside on the track, it became evident early on that she is a hard-working and dedicated young lady.

Meri Grace has an incredible work ethic and a willingness to put forth the extra effort to accomplish her goals. Meri Grace has an infectious attitude. She greets teammates with a smile, lends assistance to those in need, and she is well respected by both peers and teachers alike at Miami Trace High School.

While this is Meri Grace’s first year as a track and field athlete, her leadership skills have been witnessed by the younger athletes on the team, and she served as an example for them to follow.

Brent Noes, MT Head Track Coach