Carly Best Named 2019 Allen Peterson Academic Award Recipient (07/11/19)
(Photos submitted) Above Carly’s Senior photo.
Carly Best is this year’s Allen Peterson Award recipient. Clarion Area Softball Manager, Dan Shofestall shares this article. Following the article are comments from Carly.
Carly Best was recently named the 2019 recipient of Clarion Area Softball’s Allen Peterson Academic Achievement Award. A check of $500 was awarded to Carly from the Peterson family. She is the 8th winner of this prestigious award. The money for the award is for Carly’s post secondary education. Carly will be continuing her education at Slippery Rock University.
I’m always excited when one of our players receives the Peterson Award. It’s an award that not only recognizes the successes we have on the field, but also rewards the hard work and dedication our players put in the class room. Being able to play sports requires that the student athletes be able to learn how to juggle their time and effort between the playing field and the class room and excel at both. This is what the Peterson Award is designed to be.
Carly represents so many of the things we look for and expect from our student athletes on our team. I’m very proud of Carly and her accomplishments in the class room and the playing field. She is a great representative of our team and the Clarion School District, of what the award is and meant to be.
As Carly’s coach, I would say it’s been fun to watch her to grow and mature, not only on the field but as a person these past four years. The significant contributions she has made to the Clarion Softball program were many and can not be overlooked. She was one of the leaders of our team and led, not only with her voice, but with her actions.
Carly’s excellence in the class room and on the field is reflective of what our entire team works and strives for daily. I know that I speak for everyone, in wishing Carly the best of luck at Slippery Rock, as she continues her education and moves on to the next chapter of her life.
I would also like to extend my continuing thanks to Allen and his family for their generous sponsorship of this award. Allen was one of the pioneers of girls softball in the Clarion area. He, and other good folks, were instrumental in helping to establish the Clarion Little League girls softball. Many of the things you see today, at the field at Weaver Park, are from the efforts of Allen and others who thought girls softball was very important and something that needed established, and not over looked. Allen has always been a true friend to our area softball and still continues to be supportive. We can’t thank him enough.
With Carly being named the 2019 winner of the Peterson Academic Achievement Award, she will be honored with her name being added to the plaque with previous winners. The plaque is in the softball trophy case.
Carly’s Comments:
First I would like to thank all of my coaches and teammates this year; this was by far my favorite season. The team had such great chemistry. I was also very thankful I could be coached by my dad and play with my sister.
Winning this award is such an honor and I deeply appreciate being selected. I will be putting this scholarship towards my school books this year. Clarion Softball will always have a piece of my heart and I will definitely miss playing.
In the fall, I will be attending Slippery Rock University to major in recreational therapy, pre-occupational therapy, with hopes to graduate with my doctorate. I also would like to specialize in pediatrics.
Once again, thank you to everyone who has been there with me and coached me throughout my softball career.
(Thanks to Coach Shofestall and Carly for the article and comments and to Kim Constantino for her photos. CONGRATULATIONS TO CARLY, HER FAMILY AND THE ENTIRE LADY CATS SOFTBALL FAMILY!!!!)
The Allen Peterson Academic Achievement Award winners.
2012 Courtney Donaldson
2013 Matti Thornton
2014 Olivia Bartley
2015 Stephanie Kahle
2016 Johnna Rapp
2017 Cora Zerfoss
2018 MaKenzie Ditullio
2019 Carly Best