SACRAMENTO, CALIF. — Grace Bailey from Soquel High School and Parker Boswell from El Diamante High School were selected as the 2019 CIF Scholar-Athletes of the Year. Since 1982, the scholarship award identifies student-athletes who excel in the classroom, athletics, and are strong contributors to their schools and communities.
“I want to congratulate Grace and Parker, and the exceptional group of nominees this year that exemplified the best in education-based athletics,” said CIF Executive Director Roger L. Blake. “The students of California and our CIF scholar-athletes continue to confirm for all of us involved in high school activities that the future is bright.”
Bailey and Boswell were selected from a pool of 243 candidates representing 1,606 CIF member schools and more than 830,000 student-athletes statewide. The State Capitol and Senate and Assembly Floors will honor Bailey and Boswell on Thursday, May 16 in Sacramento. In addition, each will receive a $5,000 scholarship award.
Additionally, 20 CIF Section winners earned a $1,000 scholarship award. (See below for complete list)
Grace Bailey, Soquel High School (Central Coast Section)
Bailey is a three-sport athlete at Soquel High School serving as team captain of the soccer, cross country and track teams the past two years. She has received numerous awards including AP Scholar with Distinction, Principal’s Honor Roll, National Hispanic Recognition Scholar, and Stanford Clinical Summer Internship Certification. She also invests in her community; as a sophomore, Bailey founded the Math Peer Tutoring Club, recruiting 18 math tutors. She is also heavily involved in the Link Crew program, mentoring and supporting incoming ninth-grade students.
“I have learned that athletics are just as much about competition and scores as they are about character,” states Bailey. “I believe that my actions throughout high school have positively influenced those around me, while also pushing me to be the best version of myself, building my own character along with my peers’.”
“Grace’s academic and athletic greatness is obvious when you look at her accomplishments in both areas, but I believe it is her leadership and character that makes her really stand out,” states Soquel Athletic Director Stu Walters. “Leading by example she always plays the game with great effort, at the same time showing the utmost respect for the opponents and officials.”
Soquel Principal Gail Atlansky adds, “Grace is a well-rounded student; she is an outstanding athlete, a leader amongst her peers, and an active community member.”
• GPA: 4.00
• College: Vanderbilt University
• Career Interest: Medicine
• College Major: Medicine, Health & Society or Biomedical Engineering
• Primary Sport: Soccer
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Page 2 – 2019 CIF Scholar-Athletes of the Year
Parker Boswell, El Diamante High School (Central Section)
Boswell is a two-sport athlete at El Diamante High School participating in baseball and football all four years, while also serving as team captain the past three years. He has been very involved in student government most recently serving as ASB President and as the elected student representative to the school board. Additionally, he has served his community volunteering with the Valley Children’s Hospital, the Miracle League, Paint if Forward for Heros, and tutoring his fellow teammates in Math and English.
“As long as I, Parker Boswell, can remember, my Plan A has been to graduate from UCLA with a major in Business Economics. Although life has dealt me many obstacles that may have caused some to entertain a Plan B, for me that has never been an option,” states Boswell. “I know now, cloaked in the characters of responsibility, respect, caring, and citizenship if given the opportunity, I will fulfill Plan A.”
“Parker is humble and respectful in his dealings with everyone, and that speaks to his high moral character and quality,” praised El Diamante High School Learning Director Larry Buenafe. “He is the kind of person you would wish for as a teammate, friend, and son. I hold him in as high esteem as any student I have ever had the pleasure to work with.”
El Diamante Athletic Director adds, “There is no doubt that Parker will be successful in his future endeavors. He is a student-athlete that has earned my trust and respect and I feel that he is an athlete that I hope that my future athletes can replicate and aspire to be.”
• GPA: 3.93
• College: UCLA
• Career Interest: Wealth Management
• College Major: Business Economics
• Primary Sport: Baseball
2019 CIF Scholar-Athlete SECTION Winners
Central Section
Hayden Hobbs, Redwood H.S.
Lilian Svetich, San Luis Obispo H.S.
Central Coast Section
Chris Anderson, San Lorenzo Valley H.S.
Ana Gutierrez, St. Francis SCP H.S.
Los Angeles City Section
Calvin Stephens, El Camino Real Charter H.S.
Diris Pineda, Central City Value H.S.
North Coast Section
James Schmidt, San Marin H.S.
Katherine Tavella, San Ramon Valley H.S.
Northern Section
Payton Fuller, West Valley H.S.
Sydney Rose Paillon, Orland H.S.
Oakland Section
Allen Huynh, Skyline H.S.
Nell Schafer, Oakland Technical H.S.
Sac-Joaquin Section
Samuel Wright, Lodi H.S.
Ashley Jones, Vacaville Christian H.S.
San Diego Section
Tyler Cunningham, Mt. Carmel H.S.
Gillian Folk, Academy of Our Lady of Peace
San Francisco Section
Steven Wong, Phillip & Sala Burton Academic H.S.
Kamiah Brown, Raoul Wallenberg H.S.
Southern Section
Sangjun Lee, Redondo Union H.S.
Kaitlin Day, Walnut H.S.
