Dawson County High School is the recipient of the 2010 Georgia High School Association and Georgia Electric Membership Corporation Georgia EMC Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award for Region 8-AA.

The school is one of 38, association member high schools honored for sportsmanship demonstrated during the 2009-10 school year.

To qualify for the award, a school must have three or less ejections during the year.

“I’m very proud of this award. It was a great effort from our coaches and players in achieving this award. This is a really big honor for our athletic department,” said Dawson County High School Athletic Director Grady Turner.

The award is the first of its kind for the school.

“Each athlete and their coaches did a great job of keeping their emotions under control during games last season. It was an unanimous vote from coaches in the region for the award,” Turner added.

According to the Georgia High School Association Web site, the Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award program was introduced in 2006 to honor GHSA-member schools that exhibit outstanding sportsmanship.

The awards program is designed to promote sportsmanship by honoring those who do it well, reinforcing the association’s philosophy: “Student athletes, coaches, spectators, and all others associated with high school activities programs should adhere to the fundamental values of respect, fairness, honesty and responsibility.”

The program honors student athletes along with fellow students, school staff, parents and game spectators, making the award not only a school, but also a community honor.

“The Georgia High School Association believes that sportsmanship is really good citizenship expressed in the athletic arena,” said Dr. Ralph Swearngin, GHSA executive director.

Representatives from the EMCs will present sportsmanship trophies to winning high schools within their service territories at presentations during fall athletic events.