Page 24 - 2024 Impact Awards Program

C. Eugene Cato C. Eugene Cato

Memorial Scholarships Memorial Scholarships

Monrovia High School’s Mary Cox ranks third in her
To reward the efforts of Indiana’s high school student-athletes, the IHSAA class of 113 students, obtaining a 4.12 weighted GPA.
and IHSAA Foundation, Fortè Sports Medicine, the Indianapolis Colts, Mary has participated in four sports during her time
Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, and Sport as a Bulldog, earning varsity letters in Basketball (3
Graphics, Inc. have partnered in sponsoring the C. Eugene Cato Memorial times), Golf (2 times), Track & Field (4 times), and
Scholarship Awards.
Volleyball (once). She is the captain of Monrovia’s
Basketball, Golf, and Track & Field teams and has
Each year, a minimum of 12 seniors are chosen from applicants throughout earned All-Conference honors in Basketball, while
the state to receive a $2,500 scholarship for their high school earning Academic All-Conference in each of the four
accomplishments. These recipients are Indiana’s brightest stars and they sports she has participated in. Mary is a member of
embody everything that is right about high school sports.
the IHSAA Student Advisory Committee, where she
assists with State Finals events throughout the year
These well-rounded, positive role models have demonstrated excellence in and serves as an ambassador to student-athletes
academics, school and community involvement, character, sportsmanship, throughout the state. She serves as Senior Class
and citizenship.
Vice-President and DECA Chapter President, while
also participating in National Honor Society, Sunshine
The scholarship program is named in tribute to the late Commissioner C. Club, Girl’s Leadership at Monrovia (GLAM), and
Eugene Cato who led the IHSAA from 1983 to 1995 and served as assistant Fellowship of Chistian Athletes. She is also very
commissioner from 1976 to 1983. “Gene’s” passion for athletics and his involved in the community, helping with Monrovia
belief in the intrinsic value of athletic competition on the formation of a Youth Basketball Camps, Champions Together
child’s character enabled Gene to positively impact generations of young Mary Cox Basketball Games, Peer Tutoring, Monrovia
men and women with his well-known “Firm, Fair, and Friendly” approach to Monrovia Beautification Day, and being a Grace Kidz Sunday
caring for others. He passed away in 2008.
School Teacher. Mary will be furthering her education
at DePauw University this Fall.

Molly Bellia of Saint Joseph High School in South Bend Three-sport student-athlete Ava Decker of Elkhart
ranks first in her senior class of 200 students, High School is a nine-time varsity letter winner,
maintaining a weighted GPA of 4.46, all while
competing at the varsity level in tennis all four years of earning four in Track & Field, three in Volleyball,
her high school career and cross country for the past and two in Swimming & Diving while also
three years. Molly was appointed team captain for both serving as Team Captain her Senior season. She
her tennis and cross country squads during her senior has earned All-Conference honors for Volleyball
season. She has excelled on the tennis court, earning and Track & Field, while earning Academic All-
All-Conference, All-District, and All-State Honors in each
of her years as a Husky. Molly finished as singles state State and All-Conference honors in each of her
champion as a freshman and singles state runner-up as sports. Ava sits at the top of her Senior class of
a junior. Saint Joseph finished as team state runner-up 748 students, posting a 4.0 unweighted GPA. She
in each of those years. She’s received numerous academic is a member of the National Honor Society, Student
accolades during her time at Saint Joseph, including girls
cross country academic all-state during her junior and Government, the Student Athletic Council, Chess
senior year, High Honors in each of her semesters, and Club, and serves as Lead Senior of Rotary Interact.
teacher awards for Best Performance in numerous Ava is very active in the community, ringing bells
subjects. Molly is a member of the National Honor for Salvation Army during the holidays,
Society, Spanish Honor Society, and works as a peer participating in Elkhart Clean-up, peer tutoring at
tutor for math and chemistry. She volunteers her time as
Molly Bellia a cellist and pianist at church and school masses, her local library, helping with local NIVA volleyball
South Bend Saint Joseph organized and led a free tennis clinic for local youth practices, and much more. She will be continuing Ava Decker
called the Community Children’s Tennis Clinic, and her academic career at Saginaw Valley State Elkhart
helped organize numerous Smash Cancer fundraisers University in Michigan this fall.
that raised over $8,400 for cancer research.Molly will be
attending the United States Naval Academy in the fall.

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