Sparta student wins scholarship

Sparta — Samantha A. Bell of Sparta has been awarded the 2006 Jaime Horn Memorial Softball Scholarship. Bell is a graduate of Pope John XXIII High School where she exhibited outstanding academic, athletic, leadership and civic skills. Her high school accolades are many, varied, and distinguished. She was honored with top awards in areas of academics, service, theology, government, citizenship, leadership, athletics, and overall contribution to school activities. Bell earned fourteen varsity letters in field hockey, track, and softball. She was also the statistician for the varsity football team from 8th grade through her senior year. She participated in the Babe Ruth Softball 12U World Series in 2000 where she was named to the All World Series Team for her performance at third base. That stellar performance should be no surprise considering she began playing softball in 2nd grade and continued through her senior year in high school. She is still playing and still excelling. In addition to achieving excellence as a student, athlete, and leader, Sam carved out time for a job and for volunteering. Bell served as a volunteer at Pope John softball and field hockey camps, player representative, Board member, umpire, and umpire assignor for Sparta Girls Sports, volunteer in all aspects of church youth life, Stand Tall (student initiated drug-free program), Habitat for Humanity, and Key Club. Samantha Bell is also an accomplished musician and has traveled internationally as a result. Bell is attending Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pa. where she is majoring in business and economics. She hopes to own her own business someday. When asked what she enjoyed most about playing Babe Ruth Softball, Bell said, “It was the feeling that I got inside of me. It was that feeling that someone was proud of me and that I had done something to be proud of. Softball gave me a sense of pride in my team and in me. It is that same pride that has helped me to accomplish the many things that I have been blessed enough to have done.” The Jaime Horn Memorial Softball Scholarship was created to honor the memory of Babe Ruth League’s late national softball commissioner. It is a $1,000 scholarship awarded to a second-semester freshman in college. Horn died at age 25. She had a deep love for the young women playing Babe Ruth Softball, and she possessed an intense zest for life. The recipient was selected by a committee of Horn’s family and closest friends. For more information on the Jaime Horn Memorial Scholarship or for an application, visit www.baberuthleague.org. A league wishing to host an invitational tournament to benefit and help perpetuate this memorial scholarship should call Babe Ruth Headquarters at 800.880.3142.