It’s the time of year again for one deserving student to win the J. O. Tip Colley Award Scholarship, but chairman Jerry Miller said it’s an honor just to be nominated.

“It’s an honor just to be nominated because you have to be an excellent student– the best of the best,” Miller said.

This year there are a total of 13 students vying for the top honors- the Tip Colley scholarship of $1,500. Miller said there will also be a runner-up scholarship of $500 and second runner-up award of $250.

The featured speaker this year will be Chanda Rigby, head coach of Troy University women’s basketball. Rigby said speaking at the event is an honor.

“I’m very honored,” Rigby said. “It’s a selective group of highly successful student athletes that have a lot of potential to do a lot of important things in their lives. I hope to take advantage of the little time I have to get to speak to them.”

Rigby said she plans to speak to the students about how to have faith and vision in whatever they do.

“You’ve got to have a lot of faith to believe in something that’s not already there,” Rigby said. “I came into a program that was down, but we wanted to win conference and put Troy on national stage and we did that. You’ve got to have that faith for something you don’t see. I think we’ve got a blueprint anybody could apply to anything they’re trying do.”

The Tip Colley award was originated 26 years ago by the Troy Civitan Club and is now presented by the Troy Exchange Club.

This year’s nominees are  Bre’Jhada Smith, Lexie Motes, Lauren Johnson, Susie Stell, Lindsey Fox, Bradley Paramore, Steven Cade Curtis, Brian Redmon, Patrick O’Brien,  Evan Owen Rose, Richard Price, Anthony Glove and A’Kalysia Rodgers.

The awards ceremony will be held at the Troy Recreation Center Monday at 6:30 p.m.