Rhett Bailey began his Elkmont High School experience as a talented three sport freshman who seemed to have had everything going for him. However, as life often does, his journey took a "path less traveled" turn his sophomore year. After having recurring stomach pain for months, Rhett was diagnosed with cancer and spent the next three years recovering. Overcoming multiple surgeries, he returned to the sports he loved. Inspiring others with his determination to live his life and not be held back by the trials he had faced, his efforts were recognized at the Bryant-Jordan Awards banquet on April 14 in Birmingham. Bailey went through a four-step selection process to win the 3A Bryant-Jordan State Award and $5500 in regional and state scholarships.
Rhett is the son of Kevin and Missy
Bailey.
He has been a member of the Varsity Football, Basketball, and Baseball
teams for the past four years. Rhett is
the Senior Class President and was selected as a Class Favorite for the
Senior
Class. On campus, he is a member of the
Senior Beta Club, FCA, and Elkmont Ambassador Club. He is also a member
of the Limestone County Student Senate. He was the Boys State
Representative for Elkmont High School this past summer at the
University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. He was selected to the All-county
Football team this year. He was the boys' Elkmont
High School Spirit Award Representative, and won the overall Spirit
Award for Limestone County. Finally,
Rhett was awarded the 2013 Honored Hero of
the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in Huntsville. Rhett
is an advocate for St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis and a member
of the Holland's Gin Church of Christ. His future plans
are to attend college and pursue a degree in medicine.
The Bryant-Jordan Student-Athlete Program was created in 1986 by the
Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in conjunction with the Alabama High School
Athletic Association. It is supervised by the Board of Directors of the
Bryant-Jordan Foundation.
The objectives of the program are:
1. To
recognize and honor Alabama students who have by ability and effort
achieved a level of excellence in the areas of academics and athletics
that is commensurate with their potential.
2. To
make aware to not only athletes but all segments of the student
population that it is both important and rewarding for them to strive to
be the best that they can be. The program motivates and encourages
students to achieve this goal.
3. To
encourage and promote the involvement and commitment of Alabama
corporations and individuals in helping improve the academic levels of
all students.
The initial scholarship offered by the Bryant-Jordan Program was the
scholar athlete scholarship. In 1989 the Achievement Award was created.
This award is designed to reward the student-athlete who achieves beyond
his/her ability both academically and athletically or who may have
overcome some obstacle or hardship to achieve success.
Ninety-six scholarships are awarded annually to deserving high school
seniors from schools that are members of the Alabama High School
Athletic Association. The program has grown from an $8,000 award program
to the present over $800,000.
