Heisman worthy

Wendy’s honors Searcy student as one of state’s top scholar-athletes

Victoria Sanders, seen here in the gymnasium at Searcy High School, has been chosen as the female recipient of the Wendy’s High School Heisman Scholar Award for 2014 in Arkansas.
Victoria Sanders, seen here in the gymnasium at Searcy High School, has been chosen as the female recipient of the Wendy’s High School Heisman Scholar Award for 2014 in Arkansas.

Teachers and coaches at Searcy High School have a lot of things to say about Victoria Sanders: She’s dependable, thoughtful, hardworking, generous and talented, just to name a few. These qualities all helped her earn the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award for the state of Arkansas.

The award has been in existence for 20 years, recognizing the achievements of well-rounded student athletes.

While the Heisman Memorial Trophy is the highest award in college football, the Wendy’s High School Heisman Program honors high schoolers across the country for their work on and off the playing field or court. Two representatives — one male and one female — are chosen for each state, and then they are narrowed down to regional and national representatives.

Sanders is a senior this year, and her participation in sports started at the age of 4 when she began playing soccer.

In first grade, she added basketball. Then in junior high school, she started running track.

As a high schooler, Sanders plays all three sports throughout the year. She currently serves as the Lady Lions basketball team captain.

When she found out she was one of the state’s representatives in the Wendy’s High School Heisman Program, Sanders said she was humbled by the recognition.

“It was a confidence booster,” she said. “It made me think that I could just honor God through this. God’s given me the ability, so I use it as a platform for him. I never try to let my competitiveness get in the way of that.”

While the winning is nice and the activity keeps her in shape, the best part about playing sports, Sanders said, is being close to her teammates.

“It’s like a family,” she said. “You can talk to them about anything. I even feel that way about the coaches.”

Sanders was the female representative for Arkansas in the national Wendy’s High School Heisman competition, and her list of accomplishments shows why she was chosen for the honor.

She has lettered all three years of high school, gone to the soccer state championship and was voted best middle-distance runner in track.

Michelle Birdsong, Sanders’ basketball coach, said her attitude sets an example for how the team should operate.

“She leads from the front of the pack,” Birdsong said. “In everything we do, she’s going to be the first one. She’s always giving 100 percent every time. Her attitude on the floor, her attitude off the floor — every time you see her she has a positive attitude. Everything about her is a good person, as well as a good athlete.”

When she’s not on the field or on the court, Sanders continues to excel in all areas of her life. She has a 4.0 GPA and is taking college courses while she is still in high school.

Her plan is to go to college — possibly Harding University or Mississippi State University — to study kinesiology. She said none of those plans are set in stone, and she is still in the decision-making process.

“My choices are still open,” she said. “I’m just praying about it.”

Sanders said she is waiting to see what kinds of sports-related scholarships she will be offered, but her resume does not end with her athletics.

She is involved in several other campus organizations and activities, including Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Business Leaders of America, Spanish Honorary Club, National Beta Club, National Honor Society and Future Teachers of America.

FCA is one activity Sanders said she is heavily involved in, and that outlet gives her chances to make an impact on the community.

“We do community service projects,” she said. “There’s a foster home here in Searcy, and we went over there to bring Christmas for the kids and help clean it up a little bit.”

Sanders also helped organize FCA’s Fields of Faith, through which the club hosted a church service out on a sports field.

Bryant Turney, Searcy boys’ basketball coach and FCA sponsor, said Sanders is very deserving of the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award.

“She’s a leader, and she excels in everything she does,” Turney said.

“From the FCA standpoint, she’s been our main leader the whole time she’s been in high school. If there’s something that needs to get done, she’s the one to get it done. Dependable, generous, trustworthy — any adjective like that fits for her.”

Turney has also had Sanders as a student, and he said that pursuit of excellence translates into her work in the classroom.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s basketball, track, soccer, school or anything — she approaches it the same way,” he said.

“She’s going to give it her all.”

Staff writer Angela Spencer can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or aspencer@arkansasonline.com.

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