Clarkdale High School student is awarded the Lindy Callahan Scholar-Athlete Award

Being a star student and student-athlete is what most students strive to be. One Local High School Student was awarded for doing just that.

A Senior from Clarkdale High School has proven that hard work and dedication pays off by being awarded the Lindy Callahan Scholar-Athlete Award. We hear more about what the award is.

“It may just say that their most prestigious award, they give away every year a Lindy Callahan Award. Lindy Callahan is known as the Godfather of High School Sports in Mississippi and placed a big emphasis on academics throughout the years,” said Coach Gibson.

Alec Michael McIlwain the recipient of the award tells us how it feels to win such a prestigious award.

“It feels very good, I am very surprised. I didn't know about it, so it's definitely something special, “stated McIlwain.

Only 16 students in the state of Mississippi are chosen for the award and the last time a student from Clarkdale won was back in 2013.

Coach Gibson stated, “There are only 16 people in the entire state. So Alec was chosen over thousands of other students in this district as far as district five in the state of Mississippi.”

Coach Scott Gibson tells us what made him choose and nominate Michael for the award.

“Alec is just that he's the guy that you wish all your students were like, the guy performs well on the field, on the practice field, in the classroom. He just goes above and beyond. He's the example of the standard of what we want all our students to be like,” said Gibson.

Alec says that his secret to success is working hard and never giving up.

“If you put in the effort, you'll get the payoff from it,” said McIlwain.