Celebrating Sports Fellowship,
Spirit, and Community Pride
Welcome to our GCAC
2011-2012
Gulf Shores High School Scholar
Athlete Nominees page.
Each of the following scholar athletes have been recognized and honoured at our Gulf Coast Athletic Club for their individual outstanding performance on the field or court and for their excellence in the classroom.
Each nominee will be entered into our $2,000 scholarship pool, where our GCAC board of directors will review and vote for one outstanding male and female scholar athlete.
Each winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
The nominees for 2011-2012 include:
(in order of appearance at our GCAC Meetings)
The Gulf Coast Athletic Club honored Sophie Simantel and Tyler Stargel as the first Gulf Shores High School Scholar Athletes of the season at the Club’s Aug 29th meeting.
Sophie Simantel is very active in the school and community where she is an active member of Gulf Shores United Methodist Church. Sophie is a leader in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a member of Student Government and Juniorettes Club at Gulf Shores High School, a member of the National Honor Society and maintains a 4.0 GPA.
Sophie plays soccer for Gulf Shores where she is team captain and plays competitive soccer for Mobile Soccer Club. She is a three time recipient of the Mobile Press Register “First Team—Soccer,” named Birmingham News “All-State Soccer,” and recently MVP of the Alabama All Star Soccer match in Montgomery. Sophie is committed to play soccer for Auburn University and aspires to play on the U.S. Olympic Team.
Sophie plans to major in Biomedical Sciences at Auburn and later pursue medical school to become a Physical Therapist.
Tyler Stargel has played 4 years of varsity football at GSHS where he was team captain last year and earned All County honors. He was named 2011 Pre-Season All State by Scout.com and ranked 30th best player in Alabama by Rivals.com. Tyler has accepted a full football scholarship to Georgia Tech.
Tyler is a member of the GSHS National Honor Society maintains a 4.25 GPA and scored 29 on his ACT. He is a leader in the Gulf Shores Fellowship of Christian Athletes and SGA.
Tyler tries to be a role model for other students and considers Tim Tebow his role model. As Tyler wrote: “What's important to me is making a difference in someone’s life, whether it be large or small, because that's the simplest yet greatest personal accomplishment a person can attain.”
With this recognition, both Sophie and Tyler now qualify for the scholarship presented by GCAC to a Gulf Shores High School Scholar Athlete at the end of this school year.
Sophie Simantel and Tyler Stargel
Virginia Taylor Jones and Chris Tiley
The Gulf Coast Athletic Club recognized and honored the following Gulf Shores High School Scholar Athletes at the Club’s Sept. 26th meeting:
Virginia Taylor Jones is the daughter of Terry and Yvette Jones. Virginia is very active in both the school and community and excels in all areas. She has been on the A-Honor role all 4 years at Gulf Shores and was Student of the Month in 2008 & 2009. She is a member of the National Honor Society where she is the current Vice President. Virginia is also a member of SGA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Key Club, a class officer in each of her High School years, plus other activities. Virginia is in the Advanced Placement Program where she maintains a 4.375 GPA and scored 31 on her ACT.
Virginia played Varsity Volleyball in all 4 years of High School; was All-County in 2008, 2009, & 2010; Athlete of the Week in 2008 & 2009; All-State Honorable Mention in 2009; First Team All-State in 2010; State All-Tournament Team in 2010; and Gulf Coast Beach Volleyball Tournament Champion in 2009.
Virginia still finds time to be an active volunteer in her community and has served as Altar Attendant in her church, St. Andrews by the Sea, the last 4 years.
Virginia plans to attend The University of Alabama upon graduation from Gulf Shores High School.
Chris Tiley is the son of Chris and Nancy Tiley. Chris a 3 year starter at wide receiver for The Gulf Shores Dolphins and so far has 132 career receptions and 17 TD’s. He was 2nd Team All-State in 2010, All-County in 2010, and Team Captain in 2010. Chris also runs Track for Gulf Shores where he was 2010 State Runner Up in 300 High Hurdles and 300 High Hurdle County Champion in 2010 and 2011.
Chris is a Leader in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and a member of the National Honor Society. He is maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Chris attributes his success to Jesus Christ and his Dad, his mentor and best friend.
Chris hopes to continue his football career in college after graduation from Gulf Shores High School.
With this recognition, both Virginia and Chris now qualify for the scholarship presented by GCAC to a Gulf Shores High School Scholar Athlete at the end of this school year.
James Duggan and Sarah Uter
November 7th, 2011 Meeting
The Gulf Coast Athletic Club recognized and honored the following Gulf Shores High School Scholar Athletes at the Club’s November 7th meeting:
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Sarah Uter, the daughter of Paul and Christine Uter, participates in various sports activities at Gulf Shores High School including volleyball, basketball, and as a student athletic trainer for the football team. Sarah is an active member of the Student Government Association and Juniorettes and is an officer in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and National Honor Society. She was recently honored as her school’s Homecoming Queen. Even with her many activities, Sarah maintains a 4.38 GPA while enrolled in the Advanced Placement Diploma program and scored 25 on the ACT.
Sarah is active in her community participating in the annual Shrimp Festival, Seafood Festival, and volunteering for the Fire Department fundraisers
Sarah considers her 18-year old cousin with Cerebral Palsy her inspiration to strive so high. According to Sarah, “Her love for life despite her disabilities gives me a bigger outlook on all that I do in life.”
Sarah plans to attend college and major in geology.
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James Duggan, the son of Richard and Sherry Dugan, is a two year starter on the offensive line for Gulf Shores High School Dolphins. While excelling in sports he has maintained a 4.14 GPA taking Advanced Placement classes on the highest diploma offered and scored 25 on the ACT.
James was invited to attend the National Youth Leaders Conference in Washington D.C. where he spent six days learning about the interworking of our nation’s government. He also spent a week on campus at the University of Alabama for the American Legion’s Boy’s State. James always participates in the Relay for Life.
James considers Peyton Manning as his role model. Payton is the true definition of a leader, keeping a level head in any situation and leading his team. Quoting Dwight D Eisenhower, “The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.” According to James, “This defines who I want to be. I want to be that person who leads a group of people in a direction that not only betters their life, but the lives of others around them.”
James hopes to continue his football in college as he pursues a degree in Automotive Engineering.
With this recognition, both Sarah and James now qualify for the scholarship presented by GCAC to a Gulf Shores High School Scholar Athlete at the end of this school year.
Bethany Ogden
January 23rd, 2012 Meeting
The Gulf Coast Athletic Club recognized and honored the following Gulf Shores High School Scholar Athletes at the Club’s January 23rd, 2012 meeting:
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Bethany Ogden
My Future
Bethany Ogden
After graduating from high school in May, I plan on attending the University of Alabama. I have been accepted into the Honors College at Alabama and am looking forward to the challenges that await me. I will be majoring in Business Administration with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship and Accounting. I hope to run family businesses after college and become a successful entrepreneur. During my college career at Alabama, I hope to continue my community service project of creating a quarterly newsletter for the Catholic Charities Guardian Shelter. In addition to the newsletter, I want to continue to give back to the community by being a part of regular projects and fundraisers in college.
One person that has truly influenced my life is my mother. The person I am today is because of her devotion and attention to me. She has taught me valuable life lessons and has always been there for me, through good times and bad times. My mother has not only taught me, but shown me, the definition of hard work, determination, and moral values. She has also instilled in me the importance of cherishing family members, maintaining close friendships, and living a Christian life.
Bethany Toy Ogden
GOAL:
To pursue a General Business Degree with a minor in Accounting and an emphasis on Entrepreneurship.
University of Alabama (Attending, Fall Semester, 2012)
Honors College, Alabama (Accepted for Fall Semester, 2012)
Presidential Scholarship (Recipient, Fall Semester, 2012)
Gulf Shores High School
(Graduating May, 2012)
Trinity Episcopal School (MAIS) Mississippi Association of Independent Schools
(4 yr pre-school through 11th grade)
Natchez, MS 39120
Copiah Lincoln Community College
(Dual Enrollment English, 6 Hours Freshman English Credit)
Natchez, MS 39120
Loras College
(2 hours college credit, Lead America Business and Entrepreneurship Conference at Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA)
Dubuque, IA 52001
Academic Records
ACT: 31, Writing Score 9
GPA: 4.12 (Weighted)
CLASS RANK: 12/187
With this recognition, Bethany Ogden now qualifys for the scholarship presented by GCAC to a Gulf Shores High School Scholar Athlete at the end of this school year.
GCAC
2012 Scholarship
Recipients
Congratulations to our 2012 Scholarship Winners!
Virginia Jones and Tyler Stargel
What a great year for the GCAC! We were privileged to have had some great speakers visit our club, a wonderful attendance for our annual golf tournament and of course, we were able to award $1500 scholarships to two, well deserving scholar-athletes from Gulf Shores High School.
This year our recipients were volleyball player Virginia Jones and football player Tyler Stargel, both acknowledged for their great sportsmanship and academic leadership. Virginia Jones will be attending Auburn University while fellow winner, Tyler Stargel, will be attending and playing football for the Georgia Tech. Congratulations to them and their families!!!
We had a great year and we look forward to next year as the planning has already begun. Membership is up and we are looking to increase our numbers again this coming year under incoming president, Fred Dickinson. Fred has been a valuable part of our GCAC and will continue on with his leadership role. I want to thank all of you that have supported me and our club in the past 2 years and I certainly look forward to another exciting GCAC season!
Dec McClelland
GCAC President
L to R: Virginia Jones, GCAC President: Dec McClelland, Tyler Stargel
