CMHS Junior Named Gatorade NC Volleyball Player of the Year
Taylor Rowland , junior at Cox Mill High School , has been named the 2016-17 Gatorade North Carolina Volleyball Player of the Year !
Taylor is the first Gatorade North Carolina Volleyball Player of the Year to be chosen from Cox Mill High . The award , which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence , but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field , distinguishes Taylor as North Carolina ’ s best high school volleyball player . She is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year award to be announced later this month .
As a 6-foot-3 outside hitter , Taylor led the Chargers to a 34-0 record and the Class 3A state championship this past season . Taylor tallied 451 kills , 179 digs , 43 service aces and 21 blocks while posting a kill percentage of . 605 and a hitting percentage of . 495 .
A talented artist , Rowland has volunteered locally as part of multiple fundraising campaigns to benefit cancer research , and she has donated her time both as a youth volleyball coach and as a nursery care provider at her church .
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football , girls volleyball , boys and girls cross country , boys and girls basketball , boys and girls soccer , baseball , softball , and boys and girls track & field , and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport . The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee , which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished , veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport .
RRES Students Hold MLK Service Day
Rocky River Elementary School 5th graders held their first annual service day in honor of the Martin Luther King Jr . holiday on Monday , January 23rd . The full day of service provided a rich opportunity for students and teachers to work together embodying leadership and philanthropy . Upon arriving at school , the students embarked on a journey of service . The morning lesson taught the values of the three T ’ s of philanthropy ( time , talent , treasure ) and how they are just as essential as the three R ’ s in academics ( reading , writing , arithmetic ).
The day culminated with four different service projects : homemade dog biscuits , dog pull toys repurposed out of old towels , kitty nip toys created from baby socks , and adoption posters for the Humane Society of Concord / Cabarrus County .
Awesome job to the 5th grade Roadrunners for making a difference in many shelter animals lives ’ and making their day off a day on !
Guest speaker , Ashley Garcia-Rivera , founder of Suitcase of Hope and former AmeriCorps / City Year member , shared her story on why she started a charity for foster youth , as she was in the foster care system until her adoption at age sixteen . The students were riveted by her story and were astounded to learn that she was recognized by President Obama , the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards , and had earned a college scholarship for her “ year of service ” with City Year . After , students moved back to their homerooms to watch ABC ’ s Secret Millionaire , where millionaires go incognito into impoverished communities , volunteer their time , talents , and donate their treasures .
Parent Teacher Magazine • Mar / Apr 2017 • 3