Larry Kuzneiwski
Sofia Murtaugh is an all-around great student at White Station High School. She is top-notch academically and goes above and beyond to show her school spirit. This can-do attitude has landed her a coveted spot as a finalist for a national award.
“I got a flattering text one day from a friend saying that I had been selected to represent my school in a national competition,” she says. “It was such an honor to be nominated by my school.”
Sofia is one of only six finalists chosen from across the country for the “Student to Celebrate” school spirit award presented by Varsity Brands. She plays softball for the Lady Spartans at WSHS, and it was her experience at games that led her to set an extraordinary goal.
“I play softball and we don’t get as many fans as some of the other mainstream sports,” Sofia says. “I wanted to put my money where my mouth is and support these other teams, both varsity and club sports. I know these students work really hard just like mainstream sports.”
Sofia set a goal at the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year to attend at least one game of every sport that her school has to offer. She even made a point to chronicle her attendance on a chart. She attended baseball, basketball, golf, tennis, bowling, and so many more games. In fact, she showed up to 24 sporting events. Just last month she attended her last event, a rugby match.
Her fellow students took notice and submitted her application to Varsity Brands. Turns out, she is just the type of student they were looking for.
“We’re looking for a student who has a deep and genuine love for his or her school and consistently attends school events and displays the utmost sportsmanship and school pride,” says Jeff Webb, founder and chairman of Varsity Brands. “This student also takes academics seriously, and challenges him or herself in the classroom.”
Sofia’s school spirit is not limited to attending games. It’s been a constant for her throughout her high school experience. She says she goes all-out for spirit days, like dressing up as a member of the band KISS during homecoming week. She even painted the school’s mascot, a Spartan head, on the school parking lot.
In 2014, Varsity Brands released a study revealing that students with higher levels of spirit perform better academically, are more involved, and feel happier and more connected to their school and community.
That certainly is the case for Sofia. The White Station senior was accepted into and recently decided to attend the prestigious Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, in the fall.
Sofia will be flying to Disney World for the Spirit Awards ceremony in the middle of May to not only represent herself and White Station but also Memphis. She says this is about all students, whether they play varsity or club sports or no sport at all.
“I do think I made a difference,” Sofia says. “A lot of times I was the only fan in the stands. Supporting others is really important.”
Tune in to cheer Sofia on to victory!
Now you have a chance to support Sofia Murtaugh. Varsity Brands is holding its second annual Spirit Awards to showcase students and schools at Disney World on May 15. The ceremony, hosted by Olympic gymnast and gold medalist Laurie Hernandez, will be live-streamed at varsitybrands.com