Rylie Scott of Albany, Texas, will have help attending Texas A&M University this fall, thanks to her selection as a Jimmy Rane Foundation scholar. 

Scott is among 36 students selected to receive a scholarship from the foundation this year. A 2018 graduate of Albany High School, she will major in biomedical engineering.

In high school, Scott earned a 3.98 GPA and was active in campus organizations. She was a captain on the varsity volleyball team, editor of the high school newspaper, and vice president of the student council. 

The Albany Ministerial Alliance’s supported Community Vacation Bible School theme this year of Game On! has been a big hit if attendance numbers are any indication, with 160 children participating on Monday and 155 on Tuesday.

“We have a lot of kids!” Tisha Wilkins said. “We’ve had between 100 and 110 from Day Camp, plus 40 to 50 drop-ins that were not in the ResourceCare program.”

The Feed Store youth played volleyball and kickball at City Park on Tuesday, July 17, and they plan to get together later this week for another evening of exercise and fellowship. 

Youth ministers Levi and Ashlee Herron have asked youth that plan to go to the Skatin’ Night on Friday, July 20, to sign up in advance so that transportation can be arranged.

Cost is $8 per person, and the group will leave The Feed Store at 6:15 p.m. tomorrow.

The following weekend, July 27-29, is the Feed Store Lake Retreat at Hubbard Creek Lake.

Big Country Fellowship of Christian Athletes East representative Paul Johnston has planned a Kick Off Rally for all of the high school and junior high students from the eastern part of the Big Country, and all of the churches, parents, and kids from towns served by the FCA Big Country East are invited to join them at the free event at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium in Albany at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 2.

Ground preparation for the foundation of the new Albany Scout Hut is almost completed, and the metal is paid for, but the future of the $95,000 building project is not yet secure.

Local Scouts need help to raise another $3,800 before Sept. 1 in order to be awarded funds of $15,000 each from two pledged matching grants.

With the start of the fall sports seasons less than two weeks away, preparations are in full swing for summer workouts for both volleyball and football.

The volleyball girls will start practicing on Wednesday, Aug. 1, with the football program beginning on Monday, Aug. 6.

Based on interest shown in May by local students, coaches are expecting more participants than last year.

Volleyball Workouts

Five members of the Lady Lions softball team received recognition on the 2018 Collin Street Bakery/Texas Sports Writers Association Class 2A All-State Team.

Senior Lindsey Lucas and freshman Elia Hebel both were selected for first team honors, with three other players receiving honorable mention.

The Lady Lions advanced to the Class 2A state tournament, falling in the semifinal round to eventual state winner, the Bells Lady Panthers. 

Albany finished the season with a 28-8 record, going 10-0 in district and earning the Region I title.

The Albany Athletic Booster Club met on Monday, July 9 to start planning for the upcoming ice cream supper, the football ad program, and other Booster sponsored activities.

The annual Athletic Booster Club ice cream supper will be held on Monday, Aug. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Bank Park, according to club president Mindy Ary. 

The hamburger meal only costs $7 for the general public, and the high school athletes eat free of charge. Dessert will be homemade ice cream provided by the cheerleaders.

Recent graduate Weston Vickers signed a letter of intent with Hardin-Simmons University for the next school year to play golf.

Vickers, who graduated from Albany High School in May, officially signed last Friday to become one of the 10 members of the men’s golf team at HSU.

Advancing to the state tournament in Class 2A golf in the spring, Vickers played on the varsity all four years of his high school career.

“I am really excited about getting to play at HSU,” he said. “I am ready to continue to learn more and get better at the game.”

Parents and grandparents of Albany students, as well as businesses and other school supporters, still have almost two weeks to contact a member of the Albany Athletic Booster Club to have an ad included in the 2018 football program.

The magazine-type program is sold at all of the home football games and is typically the Club’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

The Albany Athletic Booster Club uses the money raised to help support all of the high school and junior high sports, according to treasurer Shawnee Tischler.