The year of firsts continues for Georgiana as senior Richard Boggan edged out seven other nominees for the Bryant-Jordan Achievement Award.

The distinction makes Boggan the first Butler County winner in the program’s 30-year history.

The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) created the Bryant-Jordan Student-Athlete Program to recognize and honor Alabama students who have achieved a level of excellence in the areas of academics and athletics.

In addition to the Scholar Athlete award, the Achievement award is designed to reward student-athletes who achieve beyond his or her ability both academically and athletically or those who have overcome obstacles or hardships to achieve success.

Winning the regional award nets not only statewide recognition, but also a $2,500 scholarship.  As the overall Class 1A Achievement winner as well as the representative of Class 1A Region 2, Boggan earned an additional $3,000 scholarship to the school of his choice which, as of Friday, is Jefferson State Community College.

Georgiana head basketball coach Kirk Norris said that there are any number of Boggan’s qualities that could have pushed him over seven other worthy competitors, but one stands out among the rest.

“He’s accomplished so much in his career as an athlete,” Norris said. “He’s a great role model and a leader, he works, he’s got good grades and he’s a good kid.  He’s always smiling, and he’s got a great attitude.

“But most of all, he’s just very hard working.  I think I probably texted 40 people last night after he won, and ‘it’s not a surprise, he deserves it,’ was a lot of the responses I got.  People just know what kind of person he is, and what he’s meant to our school and athletic program for the past six years.”

Boggan’s work ethic is notorious among his coaches and peers, as well as his never-give-up attitude displayed during games (demonstrated most recently during Georgiana’s state championship bout with Sacred Heart, in which Boggan racked up 25 points, 15 rebounds and four steals).

Norris believes that trait has not only laid the foundation or a successful athletic career, but a successful life.

“I think he’ll be successful at whatever he does because he’s got great parents that instill a good work ethic in him, and he’s been raised well and you can tell,” Norris said.

“It’s hard sometimes to come up with the words to explain how great of a kid he is and what he’s meant to us here.”