Cassie Kinney Wins National Award

Cassie Kinney of Governor Livingston High School has been recognized as a 2011-2012 Discus Award winner for her achievements in the areas of Athletics, Community Service, and Other Achievements. 

The Discus Awards is a national program that provides recognition and scholarship opportunities to all-around high school students who excel in three of ten key attributes.  

Kinney will be headed to Salisbury in Maryland in the fall where she will continue her field hockey career.

Kinney has starred on athletics, having been the starting varsity goalie on the Highlander high school field hockey team for four years and was named varsity captain her junior and senior years. She plays field hockey year round with her club team, Quik Stix Elite, while also making time for the varsity swim team for 4 years, where she is varsity captain.

Kinney has been on the varsity track and field team since freshman year, and hopes to advance into the state competition for throwing the discus and shot put this year. Kinney swims for her town community pool all summer, while helping to coach the 8 and under team.

Kinney has been the captain of her thirty-three man "Relay for Life" team for the past three years, raising money for the American Cancer Society. She volunteers with the D.A.R.E program, teaching kids in elementary and middle school the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol.

The GL senior is president of her schools Republican Club, which raises money for the WWP (Wounded Warriors Project). They also help out with a "Box Drive," run by the schools Student Auxiliary club, collecting necessities, toiletries and small games for soldiers who are waiting to get surgery.

Among her other achievements, Kinney is an executive leader in her school's TREND group (Turning Recreational Events in New Directions), a group in which children are taught better ways to spend their time than with using drugs and alcohol. The group does this through meetings and various field trips throughout the year. Kinney is also a representative for her senior class in her schools student council, responsible for helping coordinate many school events, like pep rallies, clothing sales and the senior prom.

Cassie Kinney is now eligible for 2011-2012 Discus Awards scholarships.  Also, Kinney created a multimedia profile highlighting her achievements, which may be viewed in the Discus Awards Winners Gallery at www.DiscusAwards.com/winners.