Discus Award Winner
Ryan Harris
12th Grade, MS
ATTRIBUTES
Athletics
I have taken leadership roles on the soccer field as both a player and referee. I have been playing competitive soccer as a Goalkeeper for 8 years for Division I Select Clubs and my High School Varsity team. Over the years, I have participated in several camps to include MS Olympic Development Program Camp in Hattiesburg MS (Jun 05), Ralph Lundy Soccer Academy in Asheville NC (Jun 06), and STAR Goalkeeper Academy of Hartford CT (Jun 07). I have been a FIFA-certified referee since spring 2007. My hard work and knowledge of the game has paid off and allowed me to work higher level games despite my youth. This allowed me to upgrade to a level 7 just 2 months after becoming eligible. The state referee leaders selected me to attend the Southern Region Olympic Development Camp (Jul 10).
Community Service
Through various organizations, I have been able to give back to my community. During my High School career, I have supported the annual Relay for Life fund-raising events and each year I work a booth at the season ending all night team walk-a-thon. As a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at school, we act as mentors for youth programs. I have been a partner helping the visually-impaired and mentally-disabled participants with the annual Top Soccer program. Referee Assignors routinely use me as a mentor for new youth referees to teach and provide on-the-field training. As the Vice-President of American Legion Sons Post 68, we are involved in several activities supporting our country’s military men, women, veterans, and dependents.
Government
This is an area that I have been very involved with during my High School career. Each year I have been selected as a Page for state government and progressively moved up (Senate, Lieutenant Governor, Governor) each year. I have been a participant and mentor with Model United Nations and won awards at the state competition each year. As a member of the Army Junior ROTC, I have been selected for increasing levels of leadership roles each year. In June 2011, I attended the American Legion Boys State event. I was on my party’s Election Committee and then campaigned for and won the State Auditors position. Last summer I worked on Congressman Greg Harper’s campaign and this summer I helped out on Phil Bryant’s successful campaign for Governor.
