Scholar-athlete awards banquet to return this year

Sports Alley has joined the El Dorado News-Times in bringing back the end of the year scholar-athlete awards banquet. The 2024 Sports Alley/El Dorado NewsTimes Scholar Athlete Awards Banquet will be held Thursday, May 30 at College Avenue Church of Christ, beginning at 6 p.m.

The banquet was a staple in Union County for 20 years before it was discontinued after 2018.

“I am excited that we are bringing back our scholar-athlete banquet,” said News-Times General Manager Robyn Yarbro. “The dedication shown by these student-athletes deserves this recognition and so much more. I'm so thankful to our sponsors for helping us bring this back to the community. I hope everyone will come out and show their support for these great kids.”

The awards banquet will recognize the top male and female scholar-athletes for the 2023-2024 school year. The finalists for Player of the Year in football, boys and girls basketball, fall sports male and female, spring sports male and female, baseball and softball will also be recognized with the winners named.

“This is so exciting,” said Sondra Greer, manager at Sports Alley. “I would say that as my kids grew up in high school when this banquet started I always loved it and appreciated how student-athletes and athletes that worked hard to be the best would be recognized. I would sit there and think, I wish Sports Alley could maybe sponsor this one day since throughout the years, 32 this year, we have provided many many athletes their equipment and uniforms from little 3-year-olds to seniors and even some collegiates. Well the day has come and we get to and are honored to sponsor this great event and that these kids will get great recognition and honor for all they have achieved.”

Other sponsors for the event include Old Town Store, Harrison Financial Management, Ideal Construction and El Dorado Festivals and Events.