First ever Citizen Athlete Tour stop lands just north of Sacramento

I arrive in the Sacramento airport late Monday night, thankful of the hours gained coming from the East Coast.  I scurry off the plane and take a shuttle over to the rental car center.  I’m asked for my license and the Alamo rental car attendant reminds me of the time in Massachusetts, “Whoa it’s, like, 2am over there, you must be tired!!”  Surprisingly, I’ve been wired the entire five hour flight over because I am given the opportunity to award our very first MaxPreps Citizen Athlete presented by the National Guard recipient in the Golden State of California, Libby Jelinek.  I briefly spoke with Libby on the phone the same day as my flight and the excitement was obvious in her voice.  We coordinated our meeting time and I expressed my enthusiasm in finally meeting her. 
   
To real off all the qualities that make Libby our perfect candidate; she was a first-team all league basketball player, with seven double-doubles this season, while withstanding a 4.32 Grade Point Average.  We all know the difficulty of balancing grades as well as being a successful athlete, but Libby takes it to another level with her community involvement.  She is an active member in her own community, receiving the “Good Citizen” honor for the Gold Trail Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution as well as her involvement in Special Olympics, frequent visits to the soup kitchen, as well as a local Senior Home, and the list continues. 
   
I comfortably wake up the following morning.  I realize where I am and frantically look at the time.  5am?!  Oh right, it’s Pacific Time, in reality I’m three ours slept in and well rested.  I take my time getting ready, making sure all commemorative awards, banners, etc. are in order.  I’m on my way to Granite Bay High School.  The ride over is gorgeous, even in the pouring rain.  I pass luxurious, brick shopping plazas, well manicured vegetation lining Granite Bay’s main roads and modern architecture from the houses and office buildings to the street lights.  I finally get to the school where the atmosphere correlates.  The grass is a fresh, bright green, cut short with clean brick buildings spattered into a campus.  I find the front gate and proceed into the main office.  By the looks of the parking lot, there is one other person here who I am determined to find.  I don’t have to look too far when a woman spots me from inside the main office.  I sheepishly introduce myself suddenly realizing how early it is.  Luckily it is my school contact, guidance counselor Cindy Underwood.  Affable and enthused, she shows me a map of the campus and tells me more about the school and Granite Bay. 

California National Guardsmen, Captain Forrest Horan and MaxPreps Rep, Megan Peasha arrive in the main office where we all shake hands and go over the order of events for the ceremony.  Like promised to Libby, we all decide to head on over to the School Theatre for some formal pictures and interviews before the assembly begins.  Waiting on the Theatre steps, Libby and her parents point us out.  (It must have been the oversized 3’ x 8’ check that revealed our identity)  We excitedly congratulate her and begin set up in the Theatre foyer.  We snap some formal pictures and soon enough seniors begin moseying into the theatre for their morning awards assembly.  Our award is straight out of the gate and before I know it, Megan Peasha is summoned on stage.  Megan Introduces the program, telling the students more about MaxPreps and what it means to be not only nominated, but be a regional winner of the inaugural MaxPreps Citizen Athlete Award presented by the National Guard out of close to 1,000 candidates nationwide.  Megan continues to tell her peers, if they didn’t already know, about all the athletic accomplishments Libby has achieved during her four years at Granite Bay.  A few Libby admirers holler out her name to show their support.  Megan then introduces Captain Horan.  Captain Horan takes the stages and speaks of Libby’s dedication to her community, teammates and family, which makes her the perfect candidate for the very first Citizen Athlete Award.  He calls Libby to the stage to hand off the official National Guard Citizen Athlete certificate as well as a crystal Citizen Athlete inscribed trophy.  Megan carries over the oversized check and also proudly hands it over to Libby, where family members and friends snap some final photos. 

After our award we all sneak back to the foyer for some last video interviews.  Libby’s friends volunteer for an interview where they confess their admiration for Libby and describe her as a stand out athlete, member of community and above all, a top-notch friend.  I have no doubt Libby is a well deserved recipient of our very first Citizen Athlete award and I wish her all the best and success in her college years and beyond!!