Central Ohio High School Sports Awards: Addison, Liu highlight male scholarship winners

From staff reports

July 20, 2022 at 6:00 AM·8 min read

The Central Ohio High School Sports Awards is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards, the largest high school sports recognition program in the country.

ThisWeek honored 10 male scholarship winners at the Central Ohio High School Sports Awards on June 15 at the Ohio Theatre, including top winners Adolphus Addison of Gahanna Lincoln and Kevin Liu of Dublin Jerome.

The show was presented by Encova Insurance and in partnership with Nationwide Children’s Hospital Sports Medicine and Raising Cane’s.

Encova Insurance and the Sneed Family Foundation awarded $63,000 in scholarships based on students’ accomplishments in the classroom, on the field of play and as leaders in their school and community.

The male scholarship winners were:

Adolphus Addison, Gahanna Lincoln

John J. Bishop Male Scholar Athlete ($7,000 scholarship)

Being a helper is something that always has felt second nature to Addison.

“I come from a very health-related background,” he said. “All the people in my family are either nurses, doctors or somewhere on that line, and I’ve always been interested in reaching out to help people in public health.”

Addison, who has done volunteer work with the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) chapter at the school, is planning to attend the University of Cincinnati ,where he’ll study biomedical engineering.

Addison competed for the boys soccer team all four seasons and this spring was a key player for the boys volleyball program, which reached a Division I regional semifinal.

“I was on two very team-oriented teams, soccer and volleyball,” he said. “You have to play a role. I tried to be a hard worker and did what I had to do even though I wasn’t on the ball (in soccer) or the best volleyball player. It was a good experience for me because I came in not knowing how to play volleyball and ended up being a starter.”

In addition to being class valedictorian with a 4.2 GPA, Addison served as National Honor Society president and vice president of social activities with HOSA.

He also began a tutoring program that included giving stuffed animals to elementary school students, helped distribute blankets through HOSA and has volunteered at the Mid-Ohio Foodbank.

“The National Honor Society was very pivotal for me and got me into leadership,” Addison said. “It also got me to be more communicative.”

According to Addison, graduating with a STEM diploma and winning the school’s Bill Withrow Award for showing leadership, promoting school spirit and being strong academically did not come easily.

“I wasn’t the best student in elementary or middle school,” he said. “I used to talk a lot and that would hinder my learning process, but when I got to high school, it was a reality check on how to function in that setting. It wasn’t me doing it all by myself. I was competing with my sister (2019 Gahanna graduate Bianca Addison) who got a 32 on her ACT and had a high GPA. My competitive nature helped me get these grades.”

–Jarrod Ulrey

Kevin Liu, Dublin Jerome

Top Male Scholar Athlete ($7,000 scholarship)

Former boys tennis coach Ken Berlin believes Liu typifies the ideal student-athlete by excelling on the court while also maintaining high standards in the classroom.

“Kevin is just a hard worker on and off the court,” Berlin said. “He’s one of those guys who is very dependable. No matter if it’s on court or off court, you know what you’re going to get from him all the time.

"You’re going to get his best effort. He’s going to be relentless until the job is done and the project is done no matter what he’s working on. It’s that consistency piece, dependability.”

Liu, who will attend Ohio State, finished 27th academically in the senior class with a 4.474 GPA and was named to the honor roll in each semester all four years. He scored 35 on the ACT and earned AP Scholar distinction for two years.

Liu was a member of the Jerome National Honor Society.

On the court, he was a two-year captain and earned four varsity letters.

Liu qualified for the Division I state tournament in doubles as a junior. He also earned OCC-Cardinal Division first-team honors and was the team’s Most Improved Player award recipient last season.

In addition to being an accomplished violist, Liu also served as Chinese Club vice president, earned 500 hours as a lead volunteer with COSI and organized several community activities as an Eagle Scout.

“The kids at Jerome are so smart,” said Berlin, who has stepped down as boys and girls tennis coach. “It’s a great place and the kids there are pretty special. They’re great tennis players, but they’re even better kids and even better students.”

–Frank DiRenna

Max Latshaw, Watterson

First runner-up Male Scholar Athlete ($5,000 scholarship)

Latshaw graduated with a 4.3 GPA while competing in cross country, swimming and track and field. He also was a captain and a state qualifier for the track and cross country teams. A National Honor Society president, Latshaw will study nursing at Washington University in St. Louis.

Christopher Lee, Big Walnut

Second runner-up Male Scholar Athlete ($4,000 scholarship)

Lee participated in cross country, swimming and track all four years while graduating first in his class with a 4.541 GPA. He was a captain in both track and cross country and was elected as senior class and student council president. Lee will attend New York University and study business and finance.

Andrew Dean, Teays Valley

Third runner-up Male Scholar Athlete ($2,000 scholarship)

Dean graduated first in his class with a 4.9 GPA. A four-year letterwinner in soccer, Dean also was team captain. In addition, he was class president as a sophomore and junior. Among his many hours of community service, Dean was part of a mentoring program for fourth- and fifth-graders. He will attend Ohio University and study nursing and natural sciences.