River Ridge High Senior Earns Positive Athlete Georgia Award

WOODSTOCK, GA — A River Ridge High School senior has earned a Positive Athlete Georgia award for her exemplary community service.

Tressie Polk recently was honored with a $1,000 award sponsored by Academy Sports + Outdoors in recognition of outstanding student athletes who also contribute to their schools and communities through significant volunteer service.

A member of her school’s swim team, Polk was recognized for her efforts to help children undergoing treatment for cancer. She has collected more than 700 hats for this cause, as well as more than 15,000 coloring books or art supplies. She has collected donations in her school and community for her Share the Color project, which she plans to continue as a college student.

For the recognition, Polk received a $1,000 shopping spree from Academy Sports + Outdoors to pick out hats and other items from its inventory for children being cared for by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

“Congratulations to Tressie for this special honor, which not only recognizes her as an outstanding student athlete, but also for making a positive contribution to her community through service,” Superintendent Brian Hightower said. “Servant leadership is a trait we want all our students to develop during their time with us, and we appreciate our teachers and coaches for leading our students in this endeavor by example.”

Positive Athlete Georgia created two videos to celebrate Polk, which are on YouTube here and here.