WinS Awards & Scholarships

Beginning with 2008, WinS will bestow each year its most premier award, the Claudia Dodson Integrity in Sport Award ($3,000.00 Scholarship). WinS is proud to rename its Sportsperson Award after one of their founding members, a woman who was the driving force in creating high school athletic opportunities for girls in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This award embodies the principles that governed how Claudia Dodson lived, worked and laid the foundation upon which we stand today.

Beginning with 2005, WinS gives an Outstanding Athlete award to the female high school athlete for each of the following sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track and Field and Volleyball. The area high schools submit nominees from their programs for this award. The following Charlottesville Albemarle area high schools participate in this process: Albemarle High School, Charlottesville High School, The Covenant School, Monticello High School, St. Anne’s Belfield School, and Western Albemarle High School.

Prior to 2005 WinS recognized one athlete in each sport from schools in the Albemarle/Charlottesville area as Athletes of the Year.

Each year WinS, through the support of State Farm Insurance, awards the Linda Bunker Academic Scholarship ($2,500) to a senior female athlete who has been nominated in her sport by her high school coach. Candidate evaluation will be based on academic achievement during the athlete’s high school career. Candidates must have a minimum 3.0 GPA (unweighted) in order to be considered. (Candidates already receiving a scholarship or grant in aid that covers the entire cost of college expenses are not eligible for this scholarship.)

A scholarship was developed in 2001 to honor professional golf instructor DeDe Owens. Dr. DeDe Owens (1946-1999) was a University of Virginia graduate and faculty member, past president, player and instructor for the Ladies Professional Golf Association, as well as co-author of several golf instruction books. She received many, many awards for her ability to reach and teach students from around the country who might be professional or amateur, gifted or challenged.

Each year WinS contacts area high school athletic directors and asks them to submit a nominee who has demonstrated such leadership qualities as exceptional guidance, conduct, direction, and/or teaching – one who influences change and is not afraid of challenges. The DeDe Owens Leadership Award ($1,000 Scholarship) nominee must be a senior who participated in an athletic program at her school and she must be a student in good standing.

Since 2007, the President of WinS has the opportunity to recognize individuals from the Charlottesville/Albemarle area who have significantly supported and advanced the mission of WinS. The WinS board may be asked to identify nominees for the Presidents Award in an effort to help the President determine those who merit consideration.

From 1999 to 2006 The Downtown Athletic Store of Charlottesville, VA sponsored an award for Sportsmanship in honor of Carl Deane. The award honored a senior female athlete who consistently displayed the qualities of leadership and fair play in practice, competition, and life.