JC Warrior Sam Moore receives Scholar Athlete Award
Many students find a niche in high school, a place where their interests and talents overlap allowing them a space to stand out from the crowd.
Samantha Moore, Sam to her friends, found that special place balancing her interests on both the softball diamond and in the classroom.
She is one of 32 student athletes across the Augusta area who is being recognized with the WJBF Scholar Athlete Award this year.
The award is given to high school seniors who carry a minimum 3.0 GPA and letter in a varsity sport. This year’s sponsors include Jefferson Energy Cooperative, Re-Bath of Augusta and CSRA McDonald’s Restaurants. Scholar Athlete award stories air on WJBF-TV each Wednesday at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. and again Thursday mornings between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.
“You have to have a love for both,” Moore said. “Softball, I go out there and I play like every game is my last and I have a love for it I’ve had since I was little. Academics, sometimes they’re easy and sometimes they’re not. You just have to want to try and want to be the best. And then you have to balance family and friends. It’s time management really.”
Moore has received recognition on the 2020 All Area softball team, 2020 All Region First Team Utility Player, 2019 All Region First Team catcher, 2019 Most Improved player on her tennis team, 2018 All Region Honor and 2018 All Region Honorable Mention in softball.
She has also had the highest average in Honors American Lit, Human Anatomy and U.S. History; received the County Writing Award, the Highest PSAT score, a University of Georgia Certificate of Merit; been on the Distinguished Honor Roll for three years; and has served as the vice president, secretary and treasurer of her school’s Beta Club.
“Whether it be in athletics or academics she never ceases to amaze me,” said her father, Tim Moore, his eyes glistening with restrained tears of pride. “I’ve enjoyed four years of watching her play out here and giving it everything she had and it’s amazing to see the talent she has. And the academics...for someone who struggled through school, seeing their daughter excel in everything she does is amazing.”
Jim Borum, Moore’s softball coach, said that while, yes, she does work hard on the field and in the classroom, Sam’s biggest strength is her character. He sees it in her love for her family, the way she interacts with other girls on the team and the smiles she gives everyone in the hallways of Jefferson County High School.
“She cares about people,” Borum said. “She’s not about herself. She’s about everybody else. She was the first captain I named this year. She does everything the right way and I credit her family for that. And this is the way she is 24/7, whether on the softball field or the classroom, it’s how she is everywhere. She leads by example. Other girls ask what they need to do and I can say, ‘Just follow Sam.’”
In the final weeks of her senior season, Moore said she already knows that she is going to miss softball when the last game is over, but she is not actively looking for opportunities to play at the next level.
“If the opportunity presents itself then sure, but I know that I won’t be as sad if I don’t play in college because I know I have given high school ball and travel ball my all and I've made so many memories that will always be with me,” she said. “That part of my life has been fulfilled.”
She is currently enjoying classes both at Jefferson County High School and through dual enrollment at East Georgia College. She wishes she could have started taking college classes earlier but the COVID-19 pandemic made that difficult to schedule.
After she graduates this spring, she hopes to continue her studies at EGC, eventually transfer to Emory University and study to be a pediatrician.
She said that she appreciates receiving the scholar athlete award because it makes her feel like other people have recognized the work she has done the last several years.
While Moore does credit her coaches for pushing her to do better and her teachers for helping her succeed, she first looks over at her father when asked who inspires her the most.
“My dad is probably my biggest help,” Moore said. “I wanted to do well in school and sports to make him proud. He’s my number one supporter. He’s always there.”