Shelby Dunlap, fourth from left, stands for a photo-op with some of the other award recipients at the Honda Center.
Having the late John Wooden’s name attached to an award means it’s important.
Carpinteria High senior Shelby Dunlap was one of only three female CIF-Southern Section student-athletes to receive this year’s John Wooden Scholar-Athlete Award & Scholarship.
“My reaction to receiving the Wooden Award was that I was surprised but extremely pleased that I was presented with such an amazing opportunity, and having the chance to represent my school was very rewarding,” Dunlap wrote in an email to Presidio Sports.
Dunlap attended the John R. Wooden Classic in December and was honored on the Honda Center floor at halftime of a UCLA men’s basketball game.
“Receiving the award was extremely exciting. The stands were packed, and I felt so happy to have won out of the hundreds of kids,” Dunlap explained. “At first when I got the news, I was shocked and I had no clue what to expect.”
“I didn’t even know I was submitted for the award, because it was done through my school and nobody told me.”
Dunlap and Carpinteria High each received $500 in scholarship money for the long list of Dunlap’s accomplishments.
Dunlap has lettered in basketball, soccer, cheer, track & field and volleyball. She has lettered in cheer and track & field for four years and holds the school record in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles.
As a leader in the classroom, Dunlap has seen as much success as on the playing field. She has been her class president each year and is the student body president as a senior. Dunlap is the Environmental Club treasurer, a member of the Spanish Club and Chinese Club, the California Scholarship Federation club president, a JSA club member and the Link Crew Leader.
At the moment, Dunlap is gearing up for her final track & field season at Carpinteria High while awaiting word from the 11 four-year colleges she applied to.
