FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (FWAA) – Emily Alford, a senior at Tupelo High School in Tupelo, Miss., was named Monday as the 16th winner of the Volney Meece Scholarship.

The scholarship is awarded annually by the Football Writers Association of America and named for the late Volney Meece. Meece served 22 years as the FWAA's executive director and was the organization's president in 1971.

The scholarship is a $1,000 annual grant for four years. It is given to a deserving son or daughter of an FWAA member.

The 18-year-old Alford is the daughter of longtime FWAA member Parrish Alford of the Northwest Mississippi Daily Journal.

Emily's impressive academic record at Tupelo High School includes membership in the National Honor Society and a fixture on the school's Honor Roll all four years. Emily accumulated a 3.968 GPA while taking several accelerated, advanced placement and honor courses.

In addition to her academic achievements, Emily has been involved in numerous extracurricular projects at school, in the community and with her church. Some of those activities include membership in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Educators of American, Mississippi All State Honor Choir, Calvary Baptist Church Tornado Relief Volunteer, Bible Club Leader, Calvary Baptist Church Ecuador Mission Trip and Vacation Bible School Teacher.

Dr. Suzy White Williams, director of several of Emily's choral activities, wrote in his letter of recommendation: "Emily has excellent rapport with teachers, students and administrators. She is self assured and self motivated and handles the stress associated with school and activities easily. I have rarely met a student upon whom I can rely as much as Emily."

Scheduled to graduate May 17, Emily plans to attend Mississippi State University.

Previous Meece scholarship winners include: Brett Goering, Topeka, Kan.; Kelly Brooks, Denver, Colo.; Elk Grove Village, Ill.; Sara Barnhart, Atlanta, Ga., Patrick Davis, Coventry, Conn.; Jacqueline O’Toole, Gaithersburg, Md.; Garrett Holtz, Denver, Colo.:, Katie Hersom, Oklahoma City, Okla.; Katie Wieberg, Lawson, Mo.; Kaylynn Monroe, Winter Park, Fla.; Nate Kerkhoff, Overland Park, Kan.; Jack Caywood, Lawrence, Kan.; Donald Hunt, Philadelphia, Pa., and Alaina Martens, La Vista, Neb.

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,200 men and women who cover college football for a living. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include gameday operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com or 972-713-6198.

Related link:
• Volney Meece Scholarship