BGO Night of Champions: Champion and Achievement Scholarship Award Winners
LEXINGTON,
KY - Bluegrass Orthopaedics (BGO) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2021
BGO Champion and Achievement Awards. Since 2016, the annual BGO Night
of Champions has honored high school student-athletes in
our community who may not always receive recognition. Each year, BGO gives out
two categories of awards: the Champion Award (one female and one
male), and the Achievement Award (15 high-achieving student-athletes).
The Champion Award, a $2,500 scholarship, is awarded to student-athletes who have distinguished themselves
by overcoming adversity or injury and have returned and excelled beyond
expectations in their respective sport(s). The Achievement Award, a $500
scholarship, is awarded to student-athletes who have distinguished themselves in the classroom, in
their community, on the playing field/court, and have been high-achievers in
every aspect of their life.
Today we are proud to
announce those winners!
BGO Achievement Awards
BGO Champion Awards
Shelby Cothron - Pulaski County High School:
Shelby,
a two-sport athlete at Pulaski County High School, competed in basketball and ran
track during her high school career. A
talented athlete, Shelby played varsity basketball as an 8th grader
for the Lady Maroons. Unfortunately,
during the summer going into her Freshman year, Shelby suffered a torn ACL and
meniscus that would require surgery.
Later that year, while progressing through her recovery, she required
another surgery to improve her range of motion after scar tissue built up in
her knee. Thankfully, her rehabilitation
allowed her to run track her freshman year and ended the season winning a Region
title in the 400m and earned 9th at the State Meet! During her sophomore year basketball season,
Shelby played well and earned an MVP award during the District Championship
game, despite re-injuring her knee that week.
After this minor setback, she was able to run track that spring, running
well until another knee injury just before the State Meet. This time, while playing summer basketball, a
fully torn ACL and LCL would mean an even longer recovery. First, a bone graft correction procedure in
July, then a second ACL and LCL reconstruction in January the following
year. After the second procedure, and 10
long months of diligent rehabilitation, Shelby was released to participate in
basketball in November of 2020. Over her
high school career, Shelby has spent 25 months in rehab overcoming multiple injuries
but has always returned and excelled both in sport and in the classroom.
Shelby's
basketball coach, Chris Adkins, had this to say about Shelby: "These events,
coupled with the current COVID pandemic, have put constant obstacles in
Shelby's life, but she has worked and worked to overcome these
adversities. I truly believe her story
personifies the meaning of the word 'perseverance' and makes her an excellent
candidate for this scholarship."
Remilson "Remi" Forlevil - Danville High School:
During
a mission trip, the Morgan family met a young Haitian boy, Remilson "Remi" Forlevil.
Remi had a tumor on his face the size of
a softball that had been there for most of his young life. The Morgan's church and community were able to
bring the 12-year-old Remi to the United States for the surgeries needed to
remove the tumor. Through that process,
the Morgan family and Remi formed a strong bond that resulted in him joining
their family to stay in the US.
Remi thrived
in school and soccer. He was showing
signs of greatness on the soccer pitch through club, middle school, and his
freshman year at Franklin-Simpson. Unfortunately,
he missed his sophomore season due to an ACL injury. The summer before his junior year, he moved to
Danville, where he joined a new team set to have a record-breaking year. Remi ended up being one of the top goal
scorers while the team finished the 2019 season as both district and regional
champions. Remi was a physical beast who
worked hard and made a name for himself, and in doing so, created many
opportunities for his future.
One
day in the spring of 2020, Remi began having headaches and trouble with his
balance, resulting in a fall. After
tests and scans, Remi was diagnosed with pediatric glioblastoma, a form of
brain cancer. This was a devastating
blow to Remi and the Morgan family. Unfortunately,
Remi's summer and fall months were filled with surgeries, tests, steroids,
radiation, and chemotherapy. Miraculously,
however, they were also filled with soccer practices and games. Not only did Remi go to almost every practice,
but he also started every game of the 2020 season. His dedication was unparalleled. He loved playing and being with his teammates.
Even as cancer and his treatments
started breaking down his body, his spirit and smile never stopped shining.
During
his recovery, Remi had a ZOOM meeting with Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki from
the cast of The Big Bang Theory. While
wiping the tears from their eyes, Galecki and Cuoco told Remi that his
determination and commitment were so inspirational that the world needed to
hear his story. They also shared how
they loved his contagious smile.
Regrettably,
during this past spring, Remi's health took a turn. During the time the Night of Champions
committee was reading through nominations, Remi was bed-bound at home. Just days before this announcement, while
surrounded by family, Remi passed away peacefully.
Remi
was a true Champion, overcoming much in his young life. His tragic story is an inspiration, and he
and his family deserve his story to be remembered.
We will be honoring these
student-athletes on April 29th,
2021 at 6:30 PM at the Marriot Griffin-Gate. Our emcee and host will be Brian Milam, WKYT's
Sports Director. Our keynote speaker is Olympian Dallas Robinson. Robinson, a graduate of Oldham
County High School, Eastern Kentucky University, & Campbellsville
University, is a hall of fame athlete and coach. During the entire time
Robinson was a soldier and a Team USA athlete, he was also a high school and
collegiate track coach and continues to coach today.
* * *
For
more information, please visit https://www.bluegrassortho.com/night-of-champions or follow us on Facebook @BluegrassOrthopaedics
* * *
ABOUT
BLUEGRASS ORTHOPAEDICS
Bluegrass Orthopaedics is the largest independent orthopaedic clinic
in Central Kentucky, with on-site diagnosis, treatment, and recovery of every
orthopaedic condition. Essentially
patients are offered four businesses under one roof - physician medical office,
physical therapy, MRI services and outpatient surgery. All of our physicians
and physician assistants are professionally trained and are board
eligible/certified. BGO wants each patient to feel like
they are the center focus. To do so, we combine our commitment of being the
most affordable, high quality orthopaedic practice in the commonwealth.
Ensuring our time-honored belief that at the core are our values, integrity,
respect and compassion.