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At the 33rd Annual J.O. Tip Colley Awards Banquet on Monday, Charles Henderson seniors Benton Dunn and Elsie Clare Coppage were selected as the 2024 Tip Colley Award Scholarship recipients.

The banquet was held at the Troy SportsPlex on Monday night. University of Alabama football and basketball commentator Chris Stewart was the special guest speaker. The awards are presented annually to a senior student-athlete in Pike County in honor of the late Dr. J.O. “Tip” Colley and goes to both a male and female student-athlete that embodies what the Troy Exchange Club emphasizes that Colley stood for: faith, academics, athletics and community.

This year’s winners were CHHS seniors Dunn and Coppage, who each received $1,500 cash scholarships. Dunn was a captain of both the football and basketball teams at CHHS and earned All-Messenger and All-State honors in football. He was also an AHSAA All-Star. Academically, he is a member of the National Honors Society. He earned a football scholarship to Kennesaw State.

Coppage was the captain of the CHHS cheerleading team and earned UCA All-American honors as she helped her team earn a third place finish at the AHSAA State Cheerleading Competition. She was also voted Cheerleader of the Year and Best Role Model by her teammates. She’s a member of the National Honors Society and her Senior Class Vice President. She was also the 2024 Distinguished Young Women winner. She’ll be attending Auburn University.

“This was the 33rd Annual Tip Colley Awards Banquet and was one of the best we have ever had,” Troy Exchange Club member Jerry Miller said. “I am impressed more and more every year with how much these young people have accomplished through their high school years and this year was no different. This group of nominees was outstanding. You feel like the future is in great hands when you get to know these outstanding young people.

“A special thanks to the Colley family for their continued unwavering support and to all those who provided sponsorships or purchased ads. Their support makes this tremendous event possible.”

The male and female runner-up also received $500 cash scholarships, as well. The runners-up were Goshen senior Paitin Riley and Pike Lib senior Jackson Cleveland. This year third place recipients were also awarded $250 cash scholarships. The third place recipients were Charles Henderson senior Sterling Sharp and Pike Lib senior Addie Renfore.