Miami East senior Cameron Godsey was the surprise recipient of the 2016 Hal McCoy Award for continued study in journalism, creative writing, and language arts. And he plans to use the money to put his career on an entertaining course.
Casstown – Miami East senior Cameron Godsey is the recipient of our 2016 Hal McCoy scholarship award for continuing education in either journalism or creative writing, and he (Godsey) could not have been more surprised in front of a school assembly Wednesday morning.
“This is a thrill,” he admitted. “I would never have believed this was possible and wouldn’t have applied if it hadn’t been for my guidance counselor Matt Rutledge. But this is a big surprise and I couldn’t be more grateful. $2,500 goes a long way to help pay for the expense of going to school.”
Godsey is the son of Mike and Jennifer Godsey, who both work for the city of Dayton, and plans to use his interest in language and words in a very creative way when he gets to Heidelberg College come September.
“I’d like to be a screen writer for films or TV.,” he says. “It’s mixing two art forms into one, making a creation out of two things. I think it would be really interesting and fun.”
And, he credits his high school English teacher for setting him on that path of interest.
“Through my high school English teacher (Kalyn Hollatz) I really developed a liking for writing. She opened up a lot of doors for me and made me see the freedom in what I could do. I was impressed with that and suddenly I really began to enjoy language and writing, which I never thought I’d be doing.”
“He’s developed a good sense of voice through his writing,” says Hollatz. “He’s a very interesting student and young man and that really comes through in what he does. He’s kind of a quirky guy, which he’s embraced and makes it part of his work. He has the ability to write what he wants and not so close to a particular requirement and I really appreciate that.”
Godsey is the second of our now five McCoy Scholarship recipients to choose Heidelberg.
Hal McCoy speaks to the student at Miami East during Wednesday’s award ceremony.
“Heidelberg was recommended to me and I decided to go look at it, not really expecting much,” he adds. “But when I saw it I really liked it. The atmosphere was relaxing, the teachers were so willing to work with you…it was small and personal. I was blown away. I had to go with it.”
As for Hal McCoy, he makes no bones about his affinity for writing, language, and those who wish to follow his example of a lifetime love affair with words.
“I’ve never been to Miami East High School before, but I’ve heard and read a lot about it,” he said to the attentive gathering. “I’m honored to be here this morning and to have this award given in my name. I wish Cameron all the luck in the world with his choice.”
If you read his name in the screen credits some day, you may remember Cameron Godsey, who plans to take his affinity for language to the highest art form of entertainment possible.
On behalf of our facilitating sponsor, The Unity National Bank, we’re pleased to congratulate Cameron; and he admits…he won’t soon forget our choosing him as the 2016 recipient of the Hal McCoy Scholarship.
Cameron Godsey is the fifth recipient of the Hal McCoy Scholarship Award for journalism and creative writing, and the second to attend Heidelberg College come September. (Press Pros Photos by Julie McMaken Wright)