STARKVILLE — Haley Jenkins really had to be pushed into a leadership role.
“My parents have pushed me from the beginning,” Jenkins said. “They have pushed me to get the highest grades. They have encouraged me to work hard at everything I do. They pushed to be more independent, and I really needed that.
“Being self-reliant is a good thing. I didn’t understand all of the tough love when it was happening. However, I do now. I like being independent, and I like being a leader.”
Jenkins is a month away from graduating from Starkville High School. While at Starkville High, Jenkins has assumed a number of leadership roles and has been one of the student body’s brightest stars in the community.
She also has been a leader in athletics, serving as captain on her soccer and cross country teams this school year. Her love for community service, track record in academics, and leadership in athletics are some of the reasons why the Mississippi High School Activities Association recognized Jenkins as one of 16 recipients for this year’s Lindy Callahan Scholar-Athlete Award.
Since its inception in 1996, the Lindy Callahan Scholar-Athlete Award is a $1,500 scholarship given to a graduating male senior and female senior in each of the association’s eight districts. Callahan was a longtime coach and administrator at Gulfport High and a former president of the MHSAA.
Jenkins’ nomination came from several members of the SHS faculty and was spearheaded by Principal Keith Fennell.
“I had never heard of the award before I got nominated,” Jenkins said. “I got called into Mr. Fennell’s office and he told me about the nomination. I didn’t think it was that a big a deal. I turned in the essay and all that. A couple of weeks later, I called back to his office and I thought I was in trouble. Turns out I had gotten the award. I had no idea what kind of impact this would have on me. It’s quite a big deal, so I am really humbled and honored.”
Starkville High girls soccer coach Anna Albritton has worked with Jenkins each of the past three seasons after her transfer from Starkville Academy. She sees natural-born leadership traits in the captain.
“Haley is a motivator,” Albritton said. “She is a hard worker and sets the example. She is the type of leader you want for your program, because she knows she is going to do her job and help lift all of her teammates at the same time.”
It those types of leadership skills Jeff and Fonda Jenkins hoped to instill when they gave their daughter some early freedoms and pushed for that independence and self-reliance.
“I have worked really hard throughout my life and always tried to set an example,” Jenkins said. “Whether it was captain of the soccer team or cross country team, I always tried to assume the leadership role at school. I did the same thing with my youth group at church. The youth group has allowed me some of the biggest opportunities of my life.”
Jenkins’ involvement in the youth group at church began in seventh grade at First Baptist Church in Starkville.
“We have taken some really cool missions trips and bonded together as a youth group,” Jenkins said. “My freshman year we went to Oklahoma and did some community service projects for the kids. The next summer went to Peru and helped some of the ones in poverty. It was great seeing the smiles on the faces of the kids and knowing you made an impact.”
The trips continued the next year with a mission to help the homeless in Chicago, and this past summer with a trip to Haiti. The ability to travel and to interact with others has helped Jenkins mature on the soccer team, where the Lady Jackets have set new school records for victories and have been a Class 5A playoff contender.
“I am proud of the team mainly because we have learned how to work together,” Jenkins said. “In my first year, we were disconnected. We didn’t do a good job of working off each person’s specific skills. We just didn’t know how to work together. Coach Anna has come in and established a toughness with our program. We know really work well together and have created quite a bond.”
While her athletic career is winding down, Jenkins looks forward to taking those leadership skills to college, where she plans to use her scholarship to study biological science.
“I hope to be accepted into medical school one day,” Jenkins said. “I would like to do something with medicine. I am in a vocational nursing class and it has been a lot of fun. I would like to one day work with infants. I think it would be difficult and emotional, but well worth it.”
Jenkins also has learned how to give a helping hand at home. Her brother, Cade, 13, recently was diagnosed with epilepsy.
“It has been very difficult for him, but we are a tight family and we are here for him in every way,” Jenkins said. “He played football, but right now all he can do is lift weights while his classmates get to play. It has been hard on him emotionally, but we are helping to keep his spirits up.”
Jenkins realizes even more how special it is to get to play the games she loves. She also realizes she only has a handful of weeks left as a high school student-athlete.
“When this year started, I so wanted to get out,” Jenkins said. “I had the senioritis that everyone talks about. As the year went along, I couldn’t believe it was fixing to be over. Now that we are this close, though, I am beginning to get a little emotional. It was an incredible experience that has helped me shape who I am today. I think this award is a good way to look back at what all I have done.”
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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