Joshua Eisner/The Omniscient
Last week, senior Kristian Eanes was recognized by WRAL for the Tom Suiter “Extra Effort Award.” This award started over 35 years ago and recognizes a student athlete each week that shows excellence in his or her sport, while also contributing to their community.
Eanes is involved with basketball, dance, volleyball, Nuthouse and My Sister’s Keeper. When receiving the award she was surprised.
“I was actually really shocked [when receiving the award],” Eanes said. “I had heard of the extra effort award—I remember when Jared [Worley] got it. I was just really excited because Coach Vernon and [my other coaches] saw everything that I do and how I manage time well, so it was cool.”
Teammate Bryn Adyt believes the award was well-deserved.
“She’s my best friend,” Adyt said. “We have been friends for a very very long time and she’s always been there to help me whenever I needed her, so I would definitely commend her for that and I think she deserved the award.”
Eanes’ teammate refer to her as the team mom, and she shows herself as a leader to her peers.
“She’s like our mother,”Adyt said. “She’s what holds our team together. If somebody is doing something wrong, Kristian’s the first to speak up—she will let us know. So just having her there as the motherly figure of the team and as a best friend and a teammate helps out a lot.”
Senior teammate Kadie Snipes agrees that the award was earned.
“I’m really excited that she got that award,” Snipes said. “I feel like she really deserved it; she does a lot for our school and the people at our school. She’s always energetic and can brighten your day just by her waving or smiling at you.”
Administrator Phillip Little believes Eanes provides extra effort by speaking up about issues.
“One of the things I’ve always liked about Kristian is that she’s not afraid to come up to somebody and have a conversation,” Little said. “Often times, if we are not careful in the job that we are in [as administrators], we don’t get to know students unless they have done something or gotten in trouble. But she’s one that will come up to you and talk to you in the hall about anything and she also is great about having conversations about what she thinks ought to be better about the school. So she’s just a well rounded person, not just an athlete but also an advocate and a good student and that shows extra effort.”
Being involved in the school is very important to Eanes.
“I just feel like Northwood wouldn’t be Northwood if I wasn’t involved,” Eanes said. “I feel like it would be really lame. I just feel like it’s important to be involved in a lot of stuff to keep yourself busy.”
Eanes would also like more people at school to be nominated for the award because Northwood has many deserving candidates.
“I know we have more people in this school that are more than deserving of this award,” Eanes said. “I hope their coaches nominate them and they get it.”
– By Jessica Kolomichuk
