When senior Kristie Chin addressed her 2007 graduating class of 1005 students Friday night, few outside of fans of Katy-area softball may have realized the Cinco Ranch salutatorian had just spent a grueling morning on the softball field before donning cap and gown. But for Chin, the 2007 Greater Houston High School Spring Sports Outstanding Female Scholar Athlete, juggling athletics and heavy duty academics has become routine.

In fact, when the Greater Houston Athletic Committee announced Chin as its selection at its annual banquet Wednesday night, Chin couldn’t attend. She was too busy assisting her Cinco Ranch Cougar softball team in their quest for their first-ever berth in the state tournament. According to her father, Bob Chin, she learned of her selection after the game via text message from Cinco Ranch soccer coach Amy Pettibone, who was at the banquet to watch Abby Stricklin, another outstanding CR scholar athlete pick up the award for soccer scholar athlete of the year.

Cinco Ranch head softball coach Judy Whillock, who along with Chin’s volleyball coach Tammy Laurence nominated Chin for the award, said, “I’m just excited for her. She deserves it. She’s definitely earned it.”

Chin, who carried a 4.75 GPA at Cinco Ranch, will attend Brown University in the fall where she will study civil engineering and architecture. She will also play softball there. A varsity softball player for four years and a varsity volleyball player for three, Chin was co-captain of the Cougar softball team for three years and was named district MVP last season. This past fall, she was co-captain and on her own organized the Cougars fall ball program for its softball athletes. She was also one of the reasons the Cougars won the District 18-5A title and reached the regional finals this year.

In her “spare” time, she has volunteered as a Sunday school aide at St. Peter’s Methodist Church, has served as vice-president of her high school government club, and been active in the Mu Alpha Theta math honor society and, naturally, the National Honor Society. She also plays piano.

Chin attributes her success to her parents, Bob and Lorraine. “They’ve gotten me where I am,” she says.

Her father said he thought his daughter’s selection as the Outstanding Female Scholar Athlete was “fantastic.” “We really want to thank the committee for honoring both the academic and the athletic. Many don’t appreciate the difficulty in doing both.”

In fact, when Cinco Ranch, which lost its bid for a state tournament berth to Katy in the regional finals Friday, began its historic run through the playoffs, Chin was busily studying for six AP exams. Her father said she was not in bed before midnight every night. Yet even as the team was battling Alvin in the Region III semifinals, she still found time to help fellow students study for their math finals.

“We really want to thank Kristie’s softball and volleyball coaches for all their help,” Bob said.

Lorraine added, “They’ve been supportive.” When Chin’s academic activities caused her to be late to practice or other events--such as when she missed the team bus to the playoff game with Cy Falls because she was taking an AP test and had to drive herself to the field--the Cougar coaches were understanding. “She couldn’t have done it without the support of the coaches, teachers and administration,” Lorraine said, adding that Kristie really thinks the world of her teachers.

While the Scholar Athlete award does not come with a scholarship, Chin won’t be going to Brown empty-handed. According to her father, she has received the Reliant Energy Scholarship, a Cinco Ranch Athletic Booster Club Scholarship, a Parent Teacher Student Association Award, and the State Farm Scholarship Award. Receiving the Reliant Energy Scholarship was an extra special honor for Chin because the presentation of her award was made on the field at Reliant Stadium during the final game of the Texans’ 2006 football season.

“We’re excited for her,” said Lorraine of her daughter’s leaving home to attend the Ivy League school in Providence, RI. “She’s an incredible person.”

Contributed by Paulette Heidbreder

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