Australian junior and senior representative Gronya Somerville recently received the most prestigious award at the 2012 Sports Awards night for the Maribyrnong Sports Academy.

The Sport Director’s Award is awarded to student athletes who have achieved excellent sporting results during the year while maintaining their life balance and academic performance. Generally these students are recognised by a combination of academic achievements, state or national sport representation and wider contribution to school life.

Factors such as high workload, sport related absence from school, injury, rehabilitation and personal hardship are sometimes factored into selection. Nominees receive a signed certificate and, as the overall winner Gronya was awarded a trophy and the honour of gracing front cover of the following year’s Award Brochure.

Gronya also won the Coaches Excellence Award for Badminton in the Developmental Sports category as well as an award for Competing for Australia at International Level (2012 Uber Cup). Gronya has been a student at Maribyrnong College since the commencement of Year 9 in 2010.