03/12/18 – Elliott County’s Molly Skaggs Selected NFHS Section 2 Spirit of Sport Award Winner

March 12, 2018

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 12, 2018

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Molly Skaggs, a student-athlete at Elliott County High School, has been selected as the 2018 Section 2 recipient of the “National High School Spirit of Sport Award” by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

The National High School Spirit of Sport Award was created by the NFHS to recognize those individuals who exemplify the ideals of the spirit of sport that represent the core mission of education-based athletics.

A standout five-year varsity letter winner, team captain and starting setter in the sport of volleyball at Elliott County High School, Skaggs’ accomplishments are incredible when one considers that she was born without feet. Skaggs’ right leg ends just below the knee and her left leg just above the ankle, and she wears prosthetic legs. A multi-sport athlete growing up, Skaggs developed a passion for the sport of volleyball. As an eighth-grader, she learned that the high school she was going to attend did not field a team. Emboldened by her passion for volleyball, Skaggs and her mother approached the school about starting the sport there. Five years later, Skaggs is now “one of the originals” who started the program.

The youngest of five siblings, Skaggs began honing her leadership skills at a young age. Always wanting to keep up with her older brothers, that competitive nature has spilled over onto the court. Around her hometown, she wasn’t seen as a volleyball player with prosthetic limbs; she was just seen as “Molly” – a kid playing her favorite sport alongside her teammates. Skaggs discovered that overcoming a disability can inspire others to do the same; therefore, she continues to push through the challenges of prosthetics in order to participate in athletics.

In addition, Skaggs maintains a 4.0 grade-point average; competes on the school’s academic team; and is a member of the BETA Club, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Future Business Leaders of America. She also finds time to do volunteer tutoring at an elementary school in her spare time throughout the school year.

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About the Award
The NFHS divides the nation into eight geographical sections. The states in Section 2 are Kentucky, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.
Nominations for this award were generated through NFHS member state associations and reviewed by the NFHS Spirit of Sport Award Selection Committee composed of state association staff members.
While the national winner will be recognized June 29 at the NFHS Summer Meeting in Chicago, Illinois, the section winners will be recognized within their respective states and will receive awards before the end of the current school year.

About the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)
The NFHS, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the national leadership organization for high school sports and fine arts activities. Since 1920, the NFHS has led the development of education-based interscholastic sports and fine arts activities that help students succeed in their lives. The NFHS sets direction for the future by building awareness and support, improving the participation experience, establishing consistent standards and rules for competition, and helping those who oversee high school sports and activities. The NFHS writes playing rules for 17 sports for boys and girls at the high school level. Through its 50 member state associations and the District of Columbia, the NFHS reaches more than 19,000 high schools and 11 million participants in high school activity programs, including more than 7.9 million in high school sports. As the recognized national authority on interscholastic activity programs, the NFHS conducts national meetings; sanctions interstate events; produces publications for high school coaches, officials and athletic directors; sponsors professional organizations for high school coaches, officials, spirit coaches, speech and debate coaches and music adjudicators; serves as the national source for interscholastic coach training; and serves as a national information resource of interscholastic athletics and activities. For more information, visit the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: John Gillis, 317-972-6900
National Federation of State High School Associations
PO Box 690, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206
jgillis@nfhs.org

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