The Region 1 CLASS Award, which stands for Citizenship, Leadership, Athletics, Sportsmanship, and Scholarship, earned Whitnell a $1,000 scholarship and a chance to compete with the other 15 regional winners. Whitnell and boys winner Justin Graham of Rowan County were each named the statewide winners and recipients of additional $3,000 scholarships at the awards banquet in Lexington April 26.
Whitnell, the daughter of Chuck and Binkie Whitnell of Mayfield, has been a three-sport athlete during her tenure at Graves County High School, qualifying and advancing to the state tournaments in golf three times, tennis four times, and as a member of the 2015 girls basketball Elite Eight finish, all while also maintaining a 4.0 grade point average.
“This honor adds to what is becoming quite a crowded trophy case for Emily,” said GCHS athletic director Khristain Elliott. “In her senior year she has been named Wendy’s High School Heisman winner for our school, signed to play golf at Freed-Hardeman University, earned All-Region honors in golf, and now is the state winner of the CLASS award.”
Whitnell is currently participating in tennis and hopes to finish her career with a fifth appearance in the KHSAA state tennis tournament, an honor that would especially be shared with her father, who has served as the GCHS tennis coach throughout her career, as well as the golf coach during the past two seasons.
Emily plans to major in education at Freed-Hardeman University, focusing on a career working with special education populations.
