Marianna alum Ward wins prestigious award

By SHELIA MADER
Published: May 6, 2008

Whitney Ward is the 2008 recipient of the “Jean Williams Award” given out through the Florida Community Colleges Activities Association.

The award was presented to Ward at the FCCAA softball banquet held Thursday night prior to the start of the state softball tournament in Auburndale last week.

The Jean Williams Award is the highest honor that can be awarded to a junior college softball player.

The award recognizes athletic skill, academic success and service to the community.

Pensacola Junior College Head softball Coach Brenda Pena says of Ward, “It was my pleasure to nominate Whitney (Ward) for the Jean Williams Award. She embodies what the award is all about. She is a wonderful and caring young woman and it has been my privilege to coach her for the past two years. She has a tremendous love of her family and teammates. She is always thinking of others and their needs.“

Marianna High School Assistant Softball Coach Jerry Dean has nothing but praise and admiration for Ward.

“Whitney is one of the hardest working girls I have ever met in my life, both academically and on the field,” he said. “There is no quit in that child. Whatever she sets her mind to she will accomplish and she will do it with a 100% great attitude.”

Although Ward is no stranger to honors, she says she didn’t expect her newest award.

“I was very surprised,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting it at all. This was a very big honor and I was very thrilled to be able to represent my team with this award.”

Ward graduated in 2006 from Marianna High School, was an Honor Graduate, a Distinguished Bulldog, Scholar Athlete, member of the National Honor Society,

President of Beta Club, Anchor Club, Juniorettes, and Student Government Association.

Ward is the daughter of Allen and Laurie Ward and the older sister of seventh grade pitching standout, Connor Ward.

Grandparents are Gina Stuart and the late Winston Stuart and Margaret Pagels. Grand grandparents are Jessie Allen and Fay Connor and the late K. B. Connor.

Upon graduation in May from Pensacola Jr. College, Ward plans to attend Florida State University in the fall.

Ward will hang up her softball cleats and work on healing her body from 15+ years of playing softball.