Juliana Brown of Cherokee High School and Bentley Huff of North Cobb High School both received a $1,000 Positive Energy Award scholarship from Cobb EMC during the Positive Athlete Georgia awards ceremony at the College Football Hall of Fame last week. The Positive Energy Award is given to local student-athletes based on character and the positive energy they are able to bring to every practice and competition. 

 “Juliana and Bentley both have amazing stories and are passionate about helping others,” said Kris Delaney, vice president of marketing and corporate communications at Cobb EMC. “We are very proud to give the Positive Energy Award to these two students for being young role models on and off the field and for what they do for their communities.” 

Brown, a junior at Cherokee High School, is a multi-sport athlete who competes in Varsity Flag Football and Track and Field, while serving as an athletic training student aide. Outside of her athletic accomplishments, Brown volunteers at local food pantries, works with elementary students each week, and participates in her school’s clothing closet. 

Huff is a senior at North Cobb High School and has been more than an outstanding athlete. He excels in Cross Country, Swim and Dive, Track and Field, and the Tidal Wave swim teams. With a 4.5 GPA, Huff manages to make time for other school activities such as photo editor for the yearbook, secretary of the National Honors Society, and Vice President of the UGA Heroes Club. 

This year, over 5,000 nominations were received by Positive Athlete Georgia from coaches, principals, athletic directors, teachers, and parents representing all Georgia public and private high schools. Former University of Georgia and Pittsburgh Steelers star, Hines Ward, and local businessman Scott Pederson created Positive Athlete nine years ago as a movement for more positivity in youth sports. 

“The most successful businessmen and women are positive individuals, so we’re using sports to help instill those characteristics at a young age,” said Pederson, president of Positive Athlete Georgia. “Positivity is a life skill that will help any young person deal with relationships, obstacles, and opportunities.” 

In addition to excellence on the field, each nominated Positive Athlete was required to show characteristics such as an optimistic attitude, teammate encouragement, leadership, heart for others, ability to admit imperfections, and realizing the team as more important than the individual.