MOULTRIE – The honors keep on coming.

Evelyn Fagan is graduating as Colquitt County High’s Valedictorian Saturday morning. Before she could get the final fit for cap and gown, along came another invitation for another distinction with her name on it.

Fagan and Colquitt County High administration received a letter naming her as the Most Positive Gymnastics Athlete in Georgia for 2016-17. The organization is called Positive Athlete, and it holds its awards ceremony on June 6 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

In the letter from Ryan Pederson, Director of Partnerships & Programming, it says the lead spokesperson for Positive Athlete is former Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Georgia wide receiver Hines Ward and that Ward will honor each athlete and coach selected. The speaker for the evening is former Atlanta Braves general manager John Schuerholz, Josh Pastner of Georgia Tech men’s basketball is the state’s Most Positive College Coach, and former Atlanta Falcons coach and Americus native Dan Reeves will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement.

How does one become a Positive Athlete? According to the organization, it’s for those who give back, are involved in their schools and communities, who overcome difficult circumstances and embody such values as optimism, servant leadership, admitting imperfections and encouraging others.

In receiving her honor, Fagan said it was special because she was nominated by her coach at Colquitt County High, Patti Wier.

“I’ve always tried to be very encouraging to my teammates,” she said. “Cheer them on. I’m always the loudest one (at competitions). And in practice when they are struggling, you have to be the one to say, ‘You can do it.'”

Fagan first got into gymnastics at the age of 4 with the YMCA Moultrie MG’s. She’s achieved Level 9 out of a possible 10, and the sport has sent her on a practical nationwide tour of competing.

“I’ve been to Milwaukee, Wisc.,” said Fagan. “Toledo, Ohio. I’ve been to a few other places, a bunch of meets.”

And while it is fun to travel, Fagan said there’s so much work involved preparing to be at her best. She recalls summers featuring “boot camps” that would last three to four weeks with training inside the gym and running outside.

That will test your optimism.

“Gymnastics takes a lot of energy and dedication,” said Fagan. “You miss out on a bunch of stuff. Sometimes you get frustrated when you are in the gym working … struggling … it can get very difficult.

“I don’t regret anything that gymnastics has made me miss.”

Her best gymnastics discipline is the one that may require the most discipline, the balance beam.

“My best score’s probably been a 9.5. I can’t remember when I got that,” said Fagan.

As for overcoming difficult circumstances, Fagan recalls a national meet at Level 8 not too long ago.

“I was last to go up on beam,” she said. “It was my first time competing at nationals. I was a little scared. I love (beam), but it’s also very nerve wracking because it’s four inches. It’s hard to keep your nerves under control, especially when it’s the last event.

“I made an 8.55 and I can remember my coach being so proud of me because we actually won the whole competition. It was that 0.05 that helped us win. It felt good.”

For Fagan, being a team leader means being positive through tough personal times.

“You have to be happy for (your teammates) when you fail,” she said. “A lot of times I didn’t do as well as I’d hoped, but when your teammates do well you have to be happy because that’s what they would be for you. It’s hard to do that.

“There’s plenty of imperfections, especially in gymnastics. It’s hard to listen to your coach sometimes when you feel like you’re doing right. A lot of times I would feel like, ‘What am I doing wrong?’ But you have to listen to your coach because they know what’s best. You have to admit your imperfections in order to do better.”

During high school, Fagan was also a cheerleader for Packer football and competitions. She’s studied piano since third grade and has worked as a lifeguard at Sunset Country Club. Also at school she did what she could to help plan activities that gets everyone involved.

After graduation, Fagan plans to attend the University of Georgia majoring in biology. She wants to enter a medical field because her favorite courses involve science and mathematics.

“I’ll definitely take a lot of things I learned in gymnastics. It’s really been a big impact in my life,” said Fagan, who would love to help coach the sport in the future. She’s also interested in helping the Georgia gymnastics team in their meets with such tasks as timing. UGA just hired Courtney Kupets Carter as head coach, and Moultrie gymnasts have competed in the meet with her name on it.

“I used to be so excited for those meets,” said Fagan.