A new annual awards program has been established to recognize top senior student-athletes at Dexter Regional High school.

The Tiger Award is the brainchild of Dexter boys basketball and tennis coach Peter Murray, who has been seeking a way to adequately honor outgoing senior multisport athletes at their final spring sports banquet, which typically are the least-attended awards banquets held at the school each year.

“I was searching for a meaningful way for our school to reward these athletes who have given so much of their time and effort to the school,” he said.

Honorees are selected by a committee consisting of the school’s athletic director and four coaches based on sportsmanship, character, leadership, dedication, and athletic contributions and achievements. Candidates for the award are players who participate in at least two sports and have earned six varsity letters during their high school careers.

“Hopefully this will become something that when new freshmen come into the school in future years, it will be something they strive for,” Murray said.

The first recipients of the Tiger Award are Sarah Carnes, Brad Chase, Skye Dillon, Jeremy Kenney, Cindy Kocielny, Mike Martin, Keriann Patterson, Brett Towle, Brittany Veazie, and Sarah Wyman. They were honored during a banquet held Sunday at Scotty’s restaurant in Newport. Each inductee received a custom-made afghan featuring depictions of the school’s mascot and a variety of sports figurines.

Each recipient also was allowed to choose who would present them with the Tiger Award, and some chose parents while others chose coaches.

Ten honored by Maine Hall

Ten senior student-athletes from around the state have been selected to receive $500 scholarships from the Maine Sports Hall of Fame and will be honored at the Hall’s 2004 induction ceremony to be held at the Italian Heritage Center in Portland on June 13.

Those receiving the Hall of Fame scholarships are Brittany Veazie of Dexter, Cheryl Morris of Hampden Academy, Kourtney Larsen of Deer Isle-Stonington, Mark Rogers of Mount Ararat in Topsham, Steven Belanger from Massabesic of Waterboro, Abby Chapman from Greely of Cumberland Center, Sam Fletcher from Edward Little of Auburn, Joseph Roy-Mayhew from Deering of Portland, Aaron Semle from Bonny Eagle of Buxton, and Megan Urban of Deering.