Celebrating Sports Fellowship,
Spirit, and Community Pride
GCAC
2019-20 Scholarship
Recipients
Welcome to our GCAC
Gulf Shores High School Scholar
Athlete Nominees page.
Each of the following scholar athletes have been recognized and honoured at our Gulf Coast Athletic Club for their individual outstanding performance on the field or court and for their excellence in the classroom.
Each nominee will be entered into our scholarship pool, where our GCAC board of directors will review and vote for one outstanding male and female scholar athlete.
2011-2012
Nominees
2012-2013
Nominees
2013-2014
Nominees
2014-2015
Nominees
The Gulf Coast Athletic Club
Is Proud To Announce Our
2019-2020--Scholar Athlete
$3,500 Scholarship Award Winners!
Lisa Patel and Eli Taylor
Lisa and Eli will both receive a $3,500 Scholarship Award.
The GCAC, through the continued hard work of their members and partnered sponsors, were able to maintain the scholarship award
at the highest amount in the clubs history.
Lisa and Eli were chosen from a distinguished list of Scholar Athletes from the Gulf Shores High School. We wish nothing but continued success in the futures of both our winners and all the Nominees.
G U L F C O A S T A T H L E T I C C L U B
2015-2016
Nominees
Lisa Patel Eli Taylor
2016-2017
Nominees
Jake Lartigue & Kaily Werthem with Linda Martin & David Lee
2017-2018
Nominees
2018-2019
Nominees
The nominees for 2019-2020
Scholarship Awards include:
(listed in order of most recent appearance at our GCAC Meetings)
Nominees from our meeting of November 4th, 2019.
Lauren Quigley & Eli Taylor
Lauren Quigley
I am Lauren Quigley, a Senior at Gulf Shores High School. I’m a dedicated student-athlete who strives to maintain a 4.3 GPA while playing both indoor and beach volleyball. One of my biggest accomplishments so far is verbally committing to play Division I beach volleyball at the University of North Alabama. At Gulf Shores High School, I am involved in several clubs such as: National Honors Society, Juniorettes, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Spanish Honors Society, and Key Club. I have the honor to hold a leadership role in many of the clubs, for example, President of International Club. This year I was also honored to be the Red Ribbon Representative for Gulf Shores High School. I truly believe a key to success is being able to maintain a healthy, well balanced lifestyle. Living on the Gulf Coast, I was exposed to both beach and indoor volleyball, and I found a love for both of them. I started playing indoor in the 6th grade and beach in 7th grade. Ever since I started playing I have always found time to balance my schedule. My Junior and Senior year I had the opportunity to step into a leadership role as the team captain at GSHS. This will be my third year to represent the Gulf Coast Region in several beach volleyball tournaments throughout the year. I have also been given a wonderful opportunity to share my knowledge with younger girls through coaching! During those few months of coaching, I got to witness the girls not only become better athletes, but also learn the importance of teamwork and responsibility. I hope that I have influenced the younger girls, as much as my coaches have influenced me. A role model of mine is Amanda Talantis, or as I know her, Coach Talantis. Throughout my years in high school I have seen her overcome many struggles, while still loving everyone around her. She has always been the one to give others a second chance, and the one who finds the good in every situation. I am very blessed to know her and have her by my side through managing clubs, learning Spanish, playing volleyball, and helping me through life. In college I hope to pursue a field that will be my platform to positively influence others’ lives and impact our world. The discipline and experience I have gained from being a student-athlete has equipped me to carry on these values into the real world. Thank you for considering me as a nominee for this student-athlete award. I hope you believe, as I do, that I am a very deserving candidate for your scholarship.
Eli Taylor
Eli Taylor is a top-ranked student-athlete at Gulf Shores High School with a GPA of 4.41. He is enrolled in Advanced Placement classes and has completed three online college courses through the University of Alabama Early College program. He has a 31 on his ACT and scored in the 94th percentile on his PSAT. Earlier this year, Eli was chosen to participate in the Alabama American Legion Boys State Convention which recognizes student leaders and outstanding citizens.
Eli plays three varsity sports - basketball, soccer, and cross country. He is also a three-year member of the National Honor Society and the International Club. He is a member of the youth group at Orange Beach United Methodist Church and volunteers as an usher for worship services and as a counselor for vacation bible school. Eli is a certified lifeguard and works at the Orange Beach Aquatics Center. He has previously worked as a referee for Gulf Shores youth soccer, as a dockhand at the Wharf Marina, and as a grocery bagger at Publix.
Eli has always enjoyed playing sports. He’s played basketball and soccer since he was in preschool. He also enjoys swimming, fishing, beach volleyball, backyard football and spending time with his friends and family. His role model is Lebron James because he’s a great basketball leader and entrepreneur. He also looks up to his Dad, Steve Taylor and finds inspiration from his grandfathers, the late Hails Taylor, a WWII veteran, and Dick Elliott, a Vietnam Vet.
In college, Eli wants to combine engineering studies with an MBA. He has been accepted to the University of Alabama, and is also applying to Georgia Tech and Duke University. He is honored by this recognition from the Gulf Coast Athletic Club.
Nominees from our meeting of September 23rd, 2019.
Marti McLaurin & Thor Tobiassen
Marti McLaurin is the daughter of Jeff & Tricia McLaurin. She has been a resident of Gulf Shores her entire life and celebrates her 18th birthday this Thursday. As a resident of Gulf Shores, she has grown up loving and respecting the beach. From the love she has for the beach and athletics she became an avid Beach Volleyball player at the age of 12 and is currently ranked the # 1 beach player in the state of Alabama by USA National Beach rankings for 18 under. Locally she plays beach Volley Ball for Pleasure Island Storm and works as a volunteer each year at the NCAA National Beach Volley Ball Championships. As a senior at Gulf Shores High School she currently plays Indoor Volleyball and has been a member of the varsity team since her freshman year. She also enjoys being a member of the Gulf Shores High School bowling team. Her academic achievements are Advanced Placement and Duel Enrollment classes, maintaining a 4.2 GPA.
Marti’s inspiration comes from her late dear friend Caroline Berry who fought a courageous battle with cancer until her last breath at the age of 17 last Thanksgiving Caroline taught her not only to respect life but to also respect academics, her teachers, sports, her coaches, friends and family at all times and to live life to its fullest with a positive attitude.
Her role models are her parents Jeff and Tricia McLaurin. She strives to be as patient, caring and loving as them. When not playing volleyball for her respected teams Marti enjoys coaching for the local indoor Grassroots volleyball system and a beach coach for 6th graders and younger. She loves helping younger girls learn about the sport and sportsmanship.
After High School, Marti plans on attending the University of Alabama at Birmingham to pursue her beach volleyball career. Her official visit as a walk on for the UAB Blazer sand Volleyball team is October 5th. While at UAB, Marti plans on getting her degree in “Athletic Training” so she can continue to stay in the field of athletics while helping other athletes not only in their specific sport but in life.
Marti maintains a 4.2 GPA and is ranked the #1 beach volleyball player in Alabama.
Thor Tobiassen
I have played varsity football for 4 years and started all those 4 years. Football captain for several games. Played basketball for 2 years and I am a member of NHS and was class treasurer and class secretary. Member of international club. I have worked summers at the Wharf Marina.
Julio Jones is my role model. I love fishing, diving, spear fishing, surfing, and snow skiing.
I have applied to both University of Alabama and Auburn. I am interested in either becoming an engineer or becoming a physician.
Thor scored a 32 on his ACT and is ranked #1 in his class.
By: Jim Walker
Nominees from our meeting of October 21st, 2019.
John Paul "JP" Uter & Lisa Patel
Lisa Patel
I am currently playing varsity basketball and soccer. I have also taken Honors/Advanced Placement classes all throughout high school. With a GPA of 4.4565, I am currently ranked number 1 in my class. My ACT Score is a 29.
I plan to attend either University of Alabama at Birmingham or Auburn University and will major in Biomedical Sciences. After obtaining my bachelor’s degree, I then plan to attend Med School at UAB. My parents are my greatest role models as they inspire me to be the best person I possibly can by supporting my decisions regarding my future and by providing me with beneficial advice.
John Paul Uter is a 4.37 AP student at GSHS. JP is a 3 year National Honor Society member and is currently a dual enrolled Coastal college student at GSHS. John Paul is also the Vice President of the Senior class. He has played football for a total of 11 years at GS of which playing both quarterback and safety positions. When entering his 8th grade year, he pursued the sport of wrestling and excelled greatly. He has since been a state qualifier for 4 straight years at GSHS from 8th grade to his Junior year. John Paul was a 6th place medalist his freshman year and a 4th place medalist his junior year.
John Paul hopes to continue to excel and work hard to become a state champion his senior year. He plans to attend college and pursue his true passion of engineering and study aeronautical engineering. John Paul gives all his thanks and praises to God for blessing him with the ability to excel both athletically and academically but, also gives thanks to his family as they have always been a great role model for him to follow. They have been the source for all the hard work put in to become the student athlete he is today.
By:Jim Walker
By:Jim Walker
Nominees from our meeting of January 20th, 2020.
Jackson Carey & Grace Lawrence
Grace Lawrence
My name is Grace Lawrence. I am the daughter of Larry and Ellyson Lawrence. I am a member of the varsity tennis team and bowling team at Gulf Shores High School. Through these sports I have learned the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship from both my coaches and teammates. Sports have kept me focused on my goals both personally and academically. This week my teammates and I will be heading to Birmingham to represent GSHS in the Alabama State Bowling Tournament after finishing 5th at the Regional Tournament.
At school I am in the National Honor Society, International Club, Peer Helper, and Juniorettes which are all service based clubs. This past summer I had the opportunity to represent GSHS at the American Legion Auxiliary Alabama’s Girls State in Tuscaloosa. This programs mission is to honor those who have brought us our freedom b developing young women as future leaders grounded in the knowledge of the democratic process, and how our government works at the state and national levels. This program helped me improve my leadership skills and knowledge of Alabama government process.
I have maintained a 4.2 GPA while taking dual enrollment and advanced placement classes. After high school I will be attending the University of Alabama and majoring in Political Science. After obtaining my bachelor’s degree, I plan on attending law school. I would like to thank you for recognizing me as a scholar athlete and this amazing scholarship opportunity.
Jackson Carey
Jackson Carey is a high achieving student-athlete at Gulf Shores High School, having been enrolled in honors, dual enrollment, and AP classes throughout his years at Gulf Shores. He scored a 31 on the ACT and maintains a 4.2 GPA. Jackson balances his school load while also being a three sport athlete. He plays football, where he has earned 4 varsity letters, wrestling, where he has earned 3 varsity letters and qualified for the state tournament both sophomore and junior year, and track, where he has earned one varsity letter and qualified for 2 events at the state track meet. On top of school and sports, Jackson has been a Hudson Marina employee for three years, being both a dock boy and a deckhand on a fishing boat. Jackson’s hobbies include playing sports, working out, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Jackson draws inspiration from his parents who have exemplified throughout his life what it means to be hard-working, dedicated, and loving. Jackson also looks up to his grandfather, who has demonstrated how to battle adversity by time and time again showing strength while fighting multiple cancer diagnoses.
After high school, Jackson plans to continue his education at the University of Alabama. He plans to major in business administration and management and minor in kinesiology with plans to own a personal training/health coaching business.
By:Jim Walker
