The Nashville High School Senior Athletic Awards Program was held last night honoring 44 seniors in athletics and scholastic bowl.  Athletic Director Wayne Harre announced that the cumulative grade point average for these 44 student athletes is at 3.185.  There are 17 Illinois High School Association Scholar Athletes, including Bryce Bambic, Marcus Bean, Luke Cox, Mariel Elliott, Allyson Grabowski, Emily Harper, Deidra Holzhauer, Joseph Kirchner, Tianna Kozuszek, Abigail Kroener, Alexandria Kubiak, Lucas Morgan, Bryce Paszkiewicz, Austin Schaeffer, John Schroeder, William Showmaker and William Wyciskalla.  They had a 3.5 GPA through 7 semesters and lettered in at least 1 sport this year.  Grabowski and Morgan were honorable mentions for IHSA All-State.  Brady Bultman and Holzhauer were the recipients of the US Army Reserve Scholar Athlete with a 3.0 GPA and lettered in 2 sports their Junior and Senior years.  Grabowski and Paszkiewicz were named Southern Illinoisan Scholar Athletes with a 3.5 GPA and leadership and sportsmanship qualities.  The Shirley Gilter Award went to Grabowski for her sports ability in 2 sports this year, as well as leadership.  Jaris Dalman and Holzhauer won the John C. Cruser Award for their spirit in athletics and academics.  Holzhauer also won the Saint Louis Post Dispatch Scholar Athlete award.  Paszkiewsicz also received a $700 scholarship from the Southern Illinois Egyptians Officials.  Three students were named for the NCHS Athletic Achievement Award and that included Royce Newman, Hunter Schultze and Tyler Wall.  The guest speaker for the night was Les Boldt, Pastor of Nashville Christian Church, as well as a teacher at the alternative school in Mount Vernon and a pitcher for his high school baseball team.  He spoke about many things, but he talked about the Hornet way and he spelled it out, just like the cheerleaders did all year, H.O.R.-N.E.T.S.  That’s H for honor of the game, players and community.  O is for opponents, a worthy opposition for the game.  R is for respect for the game, the players, opponents and even the officials.  N stands for never quit.  Always keep going.  E is for the encouragement teammates have for each other.  T is for the thrill of the victory, while S stands for sorrow or agony of defeat, which something we will all experience as well.  Boldt says these all apply to sports, as well as in regular life.  He also reminded the students to remember that they represent their school, as well as those not able to do what these athletes do.  But everyone is in life together and be thankful for what you have, as others have it worse.  Some students were in one sport for just their senior year, while others were more involved.  Senior Ryan Kell was the most active athlete, participating in 4 sports for all 4 years, while lettering 14 times.  For some of these student athletes, they will continue in athletics in college, but for others, this is the end of their athletic career.