Three receive BRAVE Awards at GHS

Gaffney High seniors Keith Gibbs, Abby Allison and Quinton Hemphill are this year's winners of the BRAVE awards given out annually by the Bolinger family. Gaffney High senior Abby Allison finds time to help a man who suffers from Parkinson's disease despite contending with her own health problems.

She will attend Tabernacle Baptist College in Greenville to prepare for a future in missionary work or as a lay assistant.

Her interest in helping others led to Allison receiving one of three Bolinger BRAVE awards at last Monday's Senior Awards Day program.

This year's BRAVE award winners were Allison, Keith Gibbs and Quinton Hemphill.

Allison has limited mobility because of health problems she has dealt with since birth.

"These health issues affected every aspect of her life and continue to be a dominant concern. Despite her own problems, she extends her help to others who may be suffering," said Ann Shirley, the school's Senior Awards Day chairperson. "She is dedicated to her church. She is respected by faculty and students alike."

The BRAVE awards are awarded to Gaffney High seniors each year by the family of John Bolinger, a veterinarian who died several years ago.

The awards recognize students who display a positive attitude, courage, and good citizenship in overcoming adversity during their high school careers.

Hemphill was just 15 when his father, Charles, died from a blood clot.

Two years later, his mother, Sadie, was shot and killed.

Hemphill has relied on a positive attitude, the support of family and friends, and sports to cope with the loss of his parents.

Hemphill helped the Gaffney High football team win the 2005 state championship.

He will play football at S.C. State University this fall.

After graduating from college, Hemphill is considering a job in law enforcement and working as a youth counselor.

"Yes, Quinton is a gifted athlete who helped lead the Indians on the field, but I believe most importantly he is someone we can all take a lesson from about life," Gaffney High teacher Frank Wilson wrote in nominating Hemphill for the BRAVE award. "He has taken events that are not happy nor should someone of his age have to deal with, and overcame them to grow as a person and a member of his school and community. I believe Quinton is the epitome of what this award stands for and feel that he is most deserving of this honor."

Like Hemphill, Gibbs has been forced to deal with family tragedy.

Gibbs has lost three family members within the past several months.

Two of the family members died within a week of each other during the Christmas holiday season.

"One of them was actually another student at Gaffney High. Even if he wasn't feeling well, tired from his after-school job, or in a good mood, he has never let it affect his work ethics or his attitude towards me and his classmates," wrote art teacher Paige Shearin in nominating the Art I student for the BRAVE award.

"I have never had to ask him twice to do something and even when he did not have confidence to do the work, that did not stop him from getting it done," Shearin wrote in a piece of glowing praise.