The Michigan High School Athletic Association has selected 14 student-athletes from Class A member schools to receive scholarships through the Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Award program. 

Allia McDowell, Newsprint’s editor-in-chief, was recognized as a MHSAA scholar-athlete of the year for the state of Michigan for 2016. This is awarded annually to just seven female high school athletes (in Class A) in the state, selected from more than 123,000 female high school athletes. Farm Bureau Insurance gives the $1,000 college scholarships to individuals who represent their member schools in at least one sport in which the Association sponsors a postseason tournament.

Allia Marie McDowell, Farmington Hills Mercy

Will play her third full season of varsity soccer this spring and played three seasons on the school’s varsity field hockey team; also played subvarsity basketball as a freshman. Helped her soccer team to Regional Finals in 2013 and 2014 and earned all-area honors last spring. Served as varsity soccer captain and also captain of soccer and field hockey junior varsities. Served as editor-in-chief of school newspaper that received the highest honor by the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association, and also won individual awards. Selected for National Honor Society and is a member of the Mercy Junior Classical League and a number of additional school clubs. Has volunteered throughout high school for Our Lady of Victory events, Detroit Red Wings games and camps and St. Joseph Mercy Hospital/The Farm at St. Joe’s projects, taking leadership roles with all three organizations. Is undecided where she will attend college but will study journalism and business.

Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship gets a lot of lip service by players. They talk about being good sports, and then sometimes they aren’t. They talk about poor attitude of other teams, but sometimes don’t encourage their own teammates on the field. … But high school athletes are scholar-athletes. That means athletics are meant to be an extension of learning. And sportsmanship is something that is taught.”

Allia was also honored as a Michigan State Premier Soccer Program (MSPSP) Scholarship recipient. This is awarded to four soccer players statewide for the best combination of soccer, academic and community service.