March 8, 2013 –
Nicole has been the leader for the Sparkman High School Lady Senators Basketball team, ever since she made the varsity squad as a freshman. She was awarded team and local accolades, but it has been her work on the AAU level that has earned her the most notoriety. One could argue that winning an AAU State Championship could be the highlight of a student-athlete’s career. You could also argue that being recognized as one of the best AAU players in the state and being named as a “Player to Watch” for this upcoming 2013 graduating class would also be significant moment in a young athlete’s career. However, it’s very likely Nicole would tell you that receiving special recognition from the City of Madison and the Mayor of Madison, a personal commendation from former Alabama Governor Bob Riley and another personal commendation from First Lady Michele Obama for her athletic and academic accomplishments, would rank at the top of her personal accomplishments. It’s easy to understand how her dedication to her academics mirrors her dedication to her basketball team. Nicole carries a 3.53 GPA and belongs to numerous scholastic and academic groups: the National Honor and Merit Scholars Society, the National Society of High School Scholars and her school’s Beta club, just to name a few. Nicole has shown such a high level of competition in the classroom, she has been selected to several college preparatory programs centered on Engineering and Technology. Some of these programs were organized by NASA, the United States Army and the Executive Women’s Council. She is also one of only eighteen students to receive a personal coin from Major General James Rogers, Commander of Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone Army Base. Through all this, Nicole still dedicates herself to her church and her community by giving countless hours towards youth ministry projects, volunteer and fund-raising projects at Sparkman High and helping teach younger athletes the game that she loves so much. Congratulations, Nicole!