Farmington Hills Mercy Senior Heather Smith Wins Scholar-Athlete Award

Mercy High School senior Heather Smith is among 13 Class A student-athletes selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship through the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Scholar-Athlete Award program.

Farm Bureau Insurance, in its 22nd year of sponsoring the award, provides the scholarship to 32 students who represent their member school in at least one sport in which the Association sponsors a postseason tournament.

In an essay considered as part of the selection criteria, Smith wrote:

“You stand at the starting line with expectations in mind. You visualize the polished medal waiting on your arrival at the finish line. When the gun is fired, you race to showcase your talent. Anticipating victory, you begin increasing speed. Once you pass the finish line, you have won. However, it was not by place or time that you became a champion. A true winner exhibits qualities of sportsmanship.”

Smith will run her fourth season of track and field this spring, and ran four varsity seasons of cross country. She earned all-league and all-region recognition and made the MHSAA finals for cross country during her final two seasons. Captain of the cross country team for three seasons and track and field captain for the second year, she is a member of both the National Honor Society and French Honor Society, received an Outstanding Service Award in 2011 and was elected vice president of the Co-Ette Club, Inc.

Smith will study biology at the University of Pennsylvania.