{"id":1886,"date":"2023-05-03T20:01:38","date_gmt":"2023-05-04T00:01:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/theogony\/2022-2023\/?p=1886"},"modified":"2023-05-03T20:01:38","modified_gmt":"2023-05-04T00:01:38","slug":"a-champion-supporting-champions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/theogony\/2022-2023\/2023\/05\/03\/a-champion-supporting-champions\/","title":{"rendered":"A Champion Supporting Champions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Emily Milton<\/p>\nEditor<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

On Saturday, April 22, ACHS senior Milan Rex was honored for her donation of $1,000 to the Miracle League of Alexandria (MLA). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rex was chosen as Gatorade Player of the Year, which is an award given to outstanding high school athletes nationwide. With the award, she is able to donate $1,000 to a youth sports organization of her choosing\u2013 and she chose The Miracle League. The award comes only weeks after winning the Virginia State Volleyball Championship with her ACHS team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Volleyball players Rex and Chloe Wilmot and Coach Danielle Thorne pose with the honorary $1000 check. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The MLA is a non-profit organization begun by community member Bill Rivers and former head of the City of Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities Mac Slover. According to their website, the MLA is a group \u201ccomprised of private citizens concerned with supporting recreation and sports opportunities for individuals with special needs.\u201d They specialize in providing youth and adults with physical and mental disabilities the opportunity to play baseball, where every hit is a home run, and everybody has a good time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Rex\u2019s generous donation, Rivers and Slover wanted to recognize her at one of the Miracle League\u2019s games. Rex, teammate and fellow State Championship winner Chloe Wilmot, and ACHS Volleyball coach Danielle Thorne attended the Earth Day game. Instead of playing on their usual site of the Kelley Cares Miracle Field, the game was played indoors at the Nannie J. Lee Recreational Center due to weather conditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rivers introduces Rex and Coach Thorne to players and their families. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Both Rex and Thorne received certificates and MLA baseball jerseys, and a ceremonial check for Rex\u2019s donation. In addition, Rex\u2019s name was added on the Kelley Cares Field Memorial Wall. When presenting Thorne\u2019s certificate, Slover highlighted her volunteer work with the recreation department when she was younger, and her recognition as Coach of the Year for 2022. Slover also stated his \u201chope for the future\u201d because of young people and players like Rex who contribute so much to their community.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From left to right, Slover, Thorne, Wilmot, and Rex pose with Thorne’s honorary certificate. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After the ceremony, Rex, Thorne, and Wilmot all participated as volunteer \u201chelpers\u201d with the adult members of the League, finishing the day after two innings and joining in on the tradition of singing \u201cTake Me Out To The Ballgame\u201d at the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n