FAIRHOPE, Alabama - A pair of Baldwin high-school athletes are the 2013 winners of the Bryant-Jordan Scholar-Athlete Award and the Student-Athlete Achievement Award Program for Region One.

Anna Marie Ramsey of Daphne High was selected as the Scholar Athlete and Imani Mallory-Kirksey of Fairhope High was selected as the Student-Athlete Achievement winner. They represent Class 6A schools from their region which covers Baldwin, Escambia, Mobile and Washington counties. As regional winners they are invited to the state Bryant-Jordan Scholarship Banquet and Awards Ceremony at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel Ballroom April 8. Both will be recognized and honored along with all regional winners before the 12 class winners and the two overall state winners are announced.

The program was created in 1986 by the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in conjunction with the Alabama High School Athletic Association to recognize, honor and reward Alabama students who have utilized their ability and efforts in academics and athletics to achieve a level of excellence in both areas. The Achievement Award was created in 1989 to reward student-athletes who achieve beyond his or her ability in both academics and athletics while also facing and overcoming obstacles or hardships to achieve success.

“The program also hopes to make all of the student population aware that it’s important and rewarding to strive to be the very best that they can be in their chosen area of interest—not only athletes.” said Daphne assistant principal Joseph Roh who also directs the International Baccalaureate program. “The Bryant-Jordan program and IB both work to help motivate and encourage students to achieve their goals through hard work and dedication. Learning good time-management and study skills has really been just one, but a big, factor in many, many of our kids going on and being successful in college—whether they play sports or are in the band or just enjoy more intra-mural type activities.”

Ramsey, who plays volleyball and tennis as well as maintains a weighted GPA above a perfect 4.0 because her IB courses are taught at advanced college-levels, agreed with that assessment.

“Time was the enemy at first—well, still is a little,” she laughed. “But all my teachers and coaches and my parents (Michael and Teressa Ramsey) helped me so much. I couldn’t do it without them. Coach (Edoli) Herrion (DHS Volleyball) always makes us remember that schoolwork comes first. But it’s an honor to get this and it feels good because it’s hard to do sports and IB at the same time. I love volleyball and tennis and just playing sports is just so much fun and being active is important. So, I didn’t want to have to give that up, but I thought about.

“In fact, now I realize that learning to deal with the pressures during a game—especially in volleyball when there can be a lot of mental pressure—to focus. I think dealing with that has helped me tremendously with my classes. But also just knowing I have coaches who support me like coach Herrion and coach (Denise) Grooms (Tennis) has helped make it less stressful sometimes. They have always accommodated my crazy (IB) schedule and I really appreciate. But it’s also gratifying to know all the extra effort is worth it.”

Mallory-Kirksey is a three-sport athlete in volleyball, basketball and track and field.

“I was surprised but really happy to find out I got it,” she said. “I really need it to help me pay for college. I want to further my education and I’ve been working hard to make good grades and be the best person I can be. I still hope I get a basketball scholarship. I believe hard work pays off even it not exactly like you plan. But playing sports, and especially for coach (Jessica) Webb (Girls’ athletic director and basketball coach at Fairhope), has helped make me to be a better player and a better student and person. I also want to thank my (senior-student) counselor (Pam) Scott. But most of all, I have to thank my mother (Linda Kirksey) for pushing me to work hard and just everything she has done. She’s my hero.”

Mallory-Kirksey is the second Fairhope girls basketball player to win the award at the region level in the last two years. Anna Raley was the 2012 winner. Webb was extra proud of that.

“It’s great to have two from my basketball program win it back-to-back. I’m so proud of Imani. And just like Anna, they both are so deserving. Of course I know maybe more than most about what all they have been through. But it’s so great that they have both been recognized for their hard work and dedication. They are really two outstanding members of the community as well. Imani is a really good student also and she’s had her share of tough knocks, but she keeps going and I know she’s going to be successful.”

Herrion is also proud of Ramsey for her ability to rise above difficulty.

“Anna’s had her share of challenges, but she does not let things get her down. She just gets to work and works that much harder and one thing I can say about her is that she really picks the rest of us up. She’s just good at that. And she does it with her spirit and her example.

“She balances so much from friends and family, school, sports, church, volunteer work and of course stays extremely busy with all her IB work. And still she is so helpful, unselfish with her time, helping other kids whenever they ask. She’s really a good person and I’m so proud of her and we’re going to miss her a lot.”

Ramsey is considering a major in the field of engineering with a lean toward aeronautics. Mallory-Kirksey is considering a criminal justice career with a specialty in forensic science.

Beside Raley, other recent winners from region one were Danny Rose of Spanish Fort High School, Charlotte Gill of Bayside Academy and Stacie Young of Escambia County High School.