FARMINGTON — The Jamie Beth Shible Memorial Scholarship Award was presented to Mt. Blue senior cheerleader Olivia Martin Thursday by Stephen and Julie Shible and their son, Ryan Shible.

The presentation was held in front of a flowering crab apple tree and plaque given by friends in memory of Shible. The tree was moved for the school renovation but is now flourishing in the courtyard at the Mt. Blue Campus.

On Memorial Day, May 26, 1997, Jamie died of bacterial meningitis just days before the end of her junior year at Mt. Blue High School. She was 17 years old.  She was also a three-year varsity cheerleader and co-captain, Steve Shible said as he presented the award to Martin.

“You are the 30th recipient,” Shible told her. “It is difficult to fathom that but you are an outstanding candidate and will likely be really successful at the next level.”

The award is given to a cheerleader who demonstrates leadership, energy and enthusiasm during cheering events, he said.

“I like getting loud with everyone,” Martin said about cheering. “The cheering team is close. We are like a family.”

Martin will be named on a plaque of recipients with Shible’s photo. It is displayed in a school trophy case, Shible said. The words engraved remember Shible’s contribution to the school and the spirit of Jamie.

The scholarships are given to cheerleaders because of Jamie’s dedication to the sport. Some years only one has been given but other years there have been three given out, Julie Shible said.

Martin receives a $500 scholarship with $50 given to her now to use as she wishes and the remainder given after she completes one semester of college, he said.

Martin plans to attend the University of New Hampshire Manchester in September to study Sign Language Interpreting, she said.

It is one of only 13 programs across the nation, Martin’s mother, Cheryl Martin, said.

Olivia is a member of American Sign Language 2 at Mt. Blue and tutors a deaf student at Mt. Blue Middle School. 

She has earned highest honors on the honor roll, ranks number eight in the class of 2015 and has been a cheerleader for two years. 

Martin  has also been involved in competition cheering and the All Academic KVAC Cheering Team. She has also earned awards as Scholar Athlete of the Year.

She has participated in gymnastics for 10 years and is a three-time YMCA Gymnastics State Champion.

She is a member of the Chess Club and involved in one act play-theatre along with tutoring, she said. 

Martin acknowledged how Jamie’s “determination and perseverance” as shown in a video “encouraged her to strive for my best.”

“I will use that same commitment and dedication that your daughter embodied to achieve ultimate success as a sign language interpreter,” she said in her award application. “My family is the most important thing to me, and I think it is wonderful that you carry on Jamie’s legacy through this scholarship award.”

abryant@sunmediagroup.net