Multisport star Madison Alves is Providence Journal's 2021-22 Honor Roll Girl Award winner
COVENTRY — Youth softball was a little too slow for Madison Alves.
She wanted to chase somebody — and, if the occasion called for it, hit somebody. She crafted a PowerPoint presentation for her parents as a sixth grader seeking their blessing to play football.
It was one of several sports in which Alves excelled during her superb career at Cranston West. Her work in the classroom was equally strong, which led to a ceremony of a different kind on Wednesday morning.
Alves was named The Providence Journal Honor Roll Girl for the 2021-22 academic year, the first recipient of the boys or girls award since her high school opened its doors 60 years ago. She was selected from a pool of applicants throughout the state and vetted by a committee that included retired Journal sportswriter John Gillooly and Anne Hird, the inaugural Journal Honor Roll Girl selection in 1977. Alves will receive a $5,000 scholarship sponsored by Finetco.
“This right here truly encapsulates how phenomenal these last four years have been,” Alves said during Wednesday morning's awards ceremony at Coventry Lumber. “How honored I am to even receive some of these awards — I couldn’t have done it without my family, my friends, teachers, administrators. There are so many people.”
Alves joins her father, Steve, in what is now a historic pairing. He was the Honor Roll Boy out of West Warwick in 1983 and has gone on to a decorated career in coaching and school administration. Her brother, Cameron, was the boys nominee for the Falcons during the 2019-20 academic year.
“It really gives me chills,” Alves said. “My brother was a nominee. To actually win it and to be the daughter of someone who has previously won it, it really does mean so much.”
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Alves did eventually reach the football field at the Pop Warner level and with Cranston West as a placekicker. That was one of several venues in which she was a standout over the last four years. All-New England selection in soccer, All-State selection in basketball and indoor track, state record setter in outdoor track — there was seemingly no challenge she couldn’t tackle.
“My brother has been my biggest supporter overall,” Alves said. “He pushes me to my limits. I can’t thank him enough — he's been the number-one role model for me.”
Alves credits 12 years as a competitive gymnast for laying the groundwork toward her future successes. The strength she built and coordination she sharpened translated to just about anything she tried. Her senior campaign included a trip to the Ryan Center with the Falcons in the girls basketball state tournament, a Class A title in outdoor track and a leg on the 4x100-meter relay champions at Brown Stadium.
“I couldn’t have done it without my peers, my coaches, my mentors,” Alves said. “There are so many people who have brought me to this path.”
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Alves maintained a weighted 4.25 grade-point average and was named to the National Honors Society. Her extracurricular activities include service with The Elisha Project, educational assistance at the Little Learners Academy and volunteering at the Rhode Island Food Bank. She also headed confirmation retreats at Immaculate Conception Church.
“I know how hard it is to excel at the highest level in both,” Journal sports editor Bill Corey said. “It takes dedication, strong time-management skills, teamwork and lots of hard work.”
Alves will play soccer in the fall at Quinnipiac while majoring in health care administration. She’s been accepted into the honors program and intends to pursue an MBA. It sounds like her days of gently persuading a certain audience to believe in her will continue long into the future.
“I’m so grateful looking back,” Alves said. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”
On Twitter: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Cranston High School West senior is Journal's Honor Roll Girl for 2022
