Dear selection panel, Look up positive, dedicated, committed and responsible in the dictionary, and there you will find Catherine Mirocha. She is the brightest ray on a dark day, no matter the circumstances in her own life. She spins everything in a positive light and seeks to find the good in all circumstances. Her peers on the cheer team recognized her positivity by voting her the Shine Award winner for this year. The faculty and staff recognized these qualities in her and chose her to receive the Spirit of a Wolverine Award at Graduation. Both of these awards, though different in design, seek to recognize a person who emulates all things school spirit and lights up any room in which she is present. Recipients are known for keeping spirits lifted, even during difficult times and always bringing the group back to focus. She demonstrates exceptional sportsmanship at all times and encourages teammates and spectators to do the same with her example. She is assertive, but poised and kind, enabling her to make her point and stand her ground with respect to whomever she is seeking to guide. At the end of Catherine's sophomore year, the head cheerleading coach who had replaced me when I became athletic director, announced to the girls that she was leaving. They had already had tryouts and had already discussed goals and plans for the season. In an attempt to hold them together, I stepped back in to serve as head coach. We spent the summer working, determined to fight adversity as it came our way and Catherine remained an ever driving force. Shortly after the school year started and about one month from our first cheer competition, it was announced that I had become Assistant Principal. Once again, Catherine took the lead, encouraging the team to adjust to the changes, introducing new coaches to help with supervision during the first hour of practice each day while I completed my new duties as AP. While this may seem insignificant to most, to a group of high school girls who have learned to trust their coach to have to adjust not once, but twice during the year, unsure of the impact the changes might have. However, Catherine once again surveyed the situation, read the mood and uncertainty of emotions her teammates were having and stepped up to provide the strength needed to learn to adjust to the change again. Believe me, written in a few sentences on paper, this adjustment might seem insignificant, but to the female high school girl, many emotions rush in at once. Consider the hours and hours that had already been committed during the summer to creating and perfecting the routine. Much trust and moving past comfort zones had to occur to make the progress that had been achieved thus far. It could quickly have crumbled if the girls had not had strong leadership from within. Some were feeling anxious, but optimistic that we could still make it work and others were feeling betrayed. Catherine helped the girls to navigate these feelings from within, among her teammates in a way that I could not do. This was critical and invaluable to the ultimate success of the team, who did learn to, again, trust that I would stand by them and devote my time to them for the remainder of the season. I can't imagine how this season would have gone had it not been for the prevailing cool head of Catherine and her ability to not only see the positives in the situation, but to lead others to share her vision. She is a born problem solver, always seeking solutions whenever obstacles arise. She was named to the Athlete Leadership Council, a student organization that promotes sportsmanship and serves as a sounding board, creating unity among various athletic teams. This was an honor position, not applied for, but rather appointed by her coach. Catherine took on many other leadership designations during her high school career because of her team spirit and willingness to work together and lead in the problem solving process. Fast forward to her senior year. In the height of "the best times of your life" Corona happened. Once again, Catherine demonstrated a can do attitude leading and inspiring her defeated peers by posting a video highlighting all the great things they had already experienced together as seniors. She is one incredible, amazing young woman and her radiant personality has left a lasting mark on me, as it will any organization that is fortunate enough to embrace her. Her classmates broke tradition of only permitting senior organization officers speak at graduation events when they chose her to provide the inspirational speech at Baccalaureate. It is not only on her team that she takes the lead as I have witnessed this through her service to other organizations and projects and even as a student in my class. I hope that you will thoughtfully consider her. If ever I needed anything done and done right, Catherine was the first choice. She brings something to you that you did not even realize was missing. Respectfully, Kelli Smith, former UGHS Assistant Principal, Athletic Director and Head Cheerleading Coach Henry County Schools Coordinator of Athletics 678-878-0020
Dear selection panel, Look up positive, dedicated, committed and responsible in the dictionary, and there you will find Catherine Mirocha. She is the brightest ray on a dark day, no matter the circumstances in her own life. She spins everything in a positive light and seeks to find the good in all circumstances. Her peers on the cheer team recognized her positivity by voting her the Shine Award winner for this year. The faculty and staff recognized these qualities in her and chose her to receive the Spirit of a Wolverine Award at Graduation. Both of these awards, though different in design, seek to recognize a person who emulates all things school spirit and lights up any room in which she is present. Recipients are known for keeping spirits lifted, even during difficult times and always bringing the group back to focus. She demonstrates exceptional sportsmanship at all times and encourages teammates and spectators to do the same with her example. She is assertive, but poised and kind, enabling her to make her point and stand her ground with respect to whomever she is seeking to guide. At the end of Catherine's sophomore year, the head cheerleading coach who had replaced me when I became athletic director, announced to the girls that she was leaving. They had already had tryouts and had already discussed goals and plans for the season. In an attempt to hold them together, I stepped back in to serve as head coach. We spent the summer working, determined to fight adversity as it came our way and Catherine remained an ever driving force. Shortly after the school year started and about one month from our first cheer competition, it was announced that I had become Assistant Principal. Once again, Catherine took the lead, encouraging the team to adjust to the changes, introducing new coaches to help with supervision during the first hour of practice each day while I completed my new duties as AP. While this may seem insignificant to most, to a group of high school girls who have learned to trust their coach to have to adjust not once, but twice during the year, unsure of the impact the changes might have. However, Catherine once again surveyed the situation, read the mood and uncertainty of emotions her teammates were having and stepped up to provide the strength needed to learn to adjust to the change again. Believe me, written in a few sentences on paper, this adjustment might seem insignificant, but to the female high school girl, many emotions rush in at once. Consider the hours and hours that had already been committed during the summer to creating and perfecting the routine. Much trust and moving past comfort zones had to occur to make the progress that had been achieved thus far. It could quickly have crumbled if the girls had not had strong leadership from within. Some were feeling anxious, but optimistic that we could still make it work and others were feeling betrayed. Catherine helped the girls to navigate these feelings from within, among her teammates in a way that I could not do. This was critical and invaluable to the ultimate success of the team, who did learn to, again, trust that I would stand by them and devote my time to them for the remainder of the season. I can't imagine how this season would have gone had it not been for the prevailing cool head of Catherine and her ability to not only see the positives in the situation, but to lead others to share her vision. She is a born problem solver, always seeking solutions whenever obstacles arise. She was named to the Athlete Leadership Council, a student organization that promotes sportsmanship and serves as a sounding board, creating unity among various athletic teams. This was an honor position, not applied for, but rather appointed by her coach. Catherine took on many other leadership designations during her high school career because of her team spirit and willingness to work together and lead in the problem solving process. Fast forward to her senior year. In the height of "the best times of your life" Corona happened. Once again, Catherine demonstrated a can do attitude leading and inspiring her defeated peers by posting a video highlighting all the great things they had already experienced together as seniors. She is one incredible, amazing young woman and her radiant personality has left a lasting mark on me, as it will any organization that is fortunate enough to embrace her. Her classmates broke tradition of only permitting senior organization officers speak at graduation events when they chose her to provide the inspirational speech at Baccalaureate. It is not only on her team that she takes the lead as I have witnessed this through her service to other organizations and projects and even as a student in my class. I hope that you will thoughtfully consider her. If ever I needed anything done and done right, Catherine was the first choice. She brings something to you that you did not even realize was missing. Respectfully, Kelli Smith, former UGHS Assistant Principal, Athletic Director and Head Cheerleading Coach Henry County Schools Coordinator of Athletics 678-878-0020
Dear selection panel, Look up positive, dedicated, committed and responsible in the dictionary, and there you will find Catherine Mirocha. She is the brightest ray on a dark day, no matter the circumstances in her own life. She spins everything in a positive light and seeks to find the good in all circumstances. Her peers on the cheer team recognized her positivity by voting her the Shine Award winner for this year. The faculty and staff recognized these qualities in her and chose her to receive the Spirit of a Wolverine Award at Graduation. Both of these awards, though different in design, seek to recognize a person who emulates all things school spirit and lights up any room in which she is present. Recipients are known for keeping spirits lifted, even during difficult times and always bringing the group back to focus. She demonstrates exceptional sportsmanship at all times and encourages teammates and spectators to do the same with her example. She is assertive, but poised and kind, enabling her to make her point and stand her ground with respect to whomever she is seeking to guide. At the end of Catherine's sophomore year, the head cheerleading coach who had replaced me when I became athletic director, announced to the girls that she was leaving. They had already had tryouts and had already discussed goals and plans for the season. In an attempt to hold them together, I stepped back in to serve as head coach. We spent the summer working, determined to fight adversity as it came our way and Catherine remained an ever driving force. Shortly after the school year started and about one month from our first cheer competition, it was announced that I had become Assistant Principal. Once again, Catherine took the lead, encouraging the team to adjust to the changes, introducing new coaches to help with supervision during the first hour of practice each day while I completed my new duties as AP. While this may seem insignificant to most, to a group of high school girls who have learned to trust their coach to have to adjust not once, but twice during the year, unsure of the impact the changes might have. However, Catherine once again surveyed the situation, read the mood and uncertainty of emotions her teammates were having and stepped up to provide the strength needed to learn to adjust to the change again. Believe me, written in a few sentences on paper, this adjustment might seem insignificant, but to the female high school girl, many emotions rush in at once. Consider the hours and hours that had already been committed during the summer to creating and perfecting the routine. Much trust and moving past comfort zones had to occur to make the progress that had been achieved thus far. It could quickly have crumbled if the girls had not had strong leadership from within. Some were feeling anxious, but optimistic that we could still make it work and others were feeling betrayed. Catherine helped the girls to navigate these feelings from within, among her teammates in a way that I could not do. This was critical and invaluable to the ultimate success of the team, who did learn to, again, trust that I would stand by them and devote my time to them for the remainder of the season. I can't imagine how this season would have gone had it not been for the prevailing cool head of Catherine and her ability to not only see the positives in the situation, but to lead others to share her vision. She is a born problem solver, always seeking solutions whenever obstacles arise. She was named to the Athlete Leadership Council, a student organization that promotes sportsmanship and serves as a sounding board, creating unity among various athletic teams. This was an honor position, not applied for, but rather appointed by her coach. Catherine took on many other leadership designations during her high school career because of her team spirit and willingness to work together and lead in the problem solving process. Fast forward to her senior year. In the height of "the best times of your life" Corona happened. Once again, Catherine demonstrated a can do attitude leading and inspiring her defeated peers by posting a video highlighting all the great things they had already experienced together as seniors. She is one incredible, amazing young woman and her radiant personality has left a lasting mark on me, as it will any organization that is fortunate enough to embrace her. Her classmates broke tradition of only permitting senior organization officers speak at graduation events when they chose her to provide the inspirational speech at Baccalaureate. It is not only on her team that she takes the lead as I have witnessed this through her service to other organizations and projects and even as a student in my class. I hope that you will thoughtfully consider her. If ever I needed anything done and done right, Catherine was the first choice. She brings something to you that you did not even realize was missing. Respectfully, Kelli Smith, former UGHS Assistant Principal, Athletic Director and Head Cheerleading Coach Henry County Schools Coordinator of Athletics 678-878-0020