Running is Cecilia Postma’s thing. The Manistee senior is an all-stater in cross country as well as an academic all-stater in track.
Really, Postma is the definition of student-athlete. Accordingly, she’s being recognized as such at a high level.
Postma is one of nine student-athletes from Class B schools throughout Michigan to be selected as a recipient of the Michigan High School Athletic Association/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Award.
Statewide, Postma is one of 32 students who are receiving $2,000 scholarships and being invited to a ceremony at the MHSAA boys basketball state finals March 16 at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center.
Students applying for the Scholar-Athlete Award must carry at least a 3.5 grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale) and have previously won a letter in a varsity sport in which the MHSAA sponsors a postseason tournament. Other requirements for applicants were to show active participation in other school and community activities and produce an essay on the importance of sportsmanship in educational athletics.
Here are notables from Postma’s resume:
- Ran four seasons of cross country, will compete in her fourth season of track and field this spring and also play her third season of varsity soccer.
- Played two seasons of junior varsity basketball.
- Earned all-state in cross country and all-conference and academic all-state in cross country and track.
- Served two seasons as cross country captain.
- Participating in third year of National Honor Society and has served as president, and fourth year of student council and has served as vice president.
- Has participated in Science Olympiad and symphonic band throughout high school, and in Youth in Government and as part of Manistee’s student newspaper staff the last two years.
- Qualified for Science Olympiad state competition three times, and served as band section leader.
Postma is undecided where she will attend college, but she intends to study on a premedical track.
Here is her essay quote for her Scholar-Athlete Award application:
“Our coaches approach the sport from a social standpoint before we even touch a ball. We are given lessons in maintaining positive competitiveness, personal responsibility, and the respect we are expected to hold for everyone on the field. These values held by my coaches have helped me appreciate the abilities of others. In game settings, they are quick to compliment our opponents and often point out others’ talent as inspiration for our team. As players we take the same approaches, making sure we acknowledge a teammate’s extra dedication, or willingness to work outside their comfort zone on the field, or even thanking a teammate for coming to practice with a smile on their face.”
