Mogadore's Dawn Marie Krager wins national award

Mogadore High School senior Dawn Marie Krager has been selected as one of 10 MaxPreps Citizen Athletes throughout the country for the 2009-2010 school year.

“The MaxPreps Citizen Athlete presented by the National Guard program was created to honor those student-athletes who excel both on and off the field,” company President Andy Beal said in a prepared statement. “High school sports are community-based, and thousands of student-athletes contribute to making their communities a better place to live. MaxPreps is honored to celebrate the achievements of these fine young Americans.”

In its first year of the program, the MaxPreps Citizen Athlete Award presented by the National Guard is awarded to the high school students who exemplify positive values and demonstrate leadership in all areas of life – community service, academics, athletics and school involvement.

“This award is going to help me a lot for the future and I feel very honored that I have been selected,” said Krager, a 17-year-old senior, who is the girls’ winner in the Midwest Region.

MaxPreps and the National Guard have joined forces to recognize five boys and five girls throughout the country. Each regional (Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest and Midwest) winner receives a $2,500 scholarship. Winners are determined by a panel of MaxPreps and National Guard representatives.

Krager, who was nominated by volleyball coach Jennifer Ritch, will attend the University of Akron this fall. She plans to major in psychology and eventually become a counselor.

Krager has a 4.67 grade point average and three times has been named to the National Honor Society and serves as treasurer for the organization. She has been her class treasurer for four years and is president of the Student Council.

Krager was a volleyball team co-captain in 2009, where she was named honorable mention all-Portage Trail Conference County Division. She played three years of varsity basketball, and spent two years each on the volleyball and softball teams. She also spent three years as a varsity cheerleader and served as a co-captain her senior year.

Off the field, Krager volunteered time to work with inner city youths at Betty Jane Elementary and Harris Elementary, both located in Akron. She helped raise money and collected gifts for the Giving Tree Project which benefited local children and their families at Christmas.

“It felt good to give back to people who don’t have much,” Krager said.

Ohio National Guard Brigadier General Rufus Smith presented Krager with the National Guard Citizen Athlete trophy during an academic awards assembly Monday afternoon.