VALDOSTA — Thom Amiot, an offensive lineman for Valdosta High School, has been chosen as a recipient of the 2005 College Football Hall of Fame State of Georgia Scholar Athlete Award.
Amiot was one of 40 Georgia high school football players to receive the honor. He was a two-year starter on the offensive line at Valdosta, and owns a 3.9 grade-point average in the classroom.
“You are one of the top 40 scholar-athletes for football in the state of Georgia for 2005,” read the congratulatory letter sent to Amiot. “Your record in high school is certainly one to be proud of, and I know that your family, friends and coaches are happy and proud of you.”
“It’s a great honor,” Amiot said. “I am incredibly appreciative of this. Every scholarship helps for college. This will go to good use.”
Amiot and Houston County quarterback Jeremy Whitley were the only athletes from Region 1-AAAAA to receive the award.
Amiot and the other recipients of the honor received a $1,000 scholarship for college, given at the Texaco Havoline Scholarship Luncheon and ‘Chalk Talk’ on Dec. 29 in Atlanta. The luncheon was part of the Peach Bowl festivities.
“The whole experience was amazing,” Amiot said. “There were some good football players there, and a lot of real smart guys.”
Amiot, a senior, will attend Valdosta State next year. He thought about going to Georgia, but then opted to stay in his hometown for school. He will major in business.
Staying in the area will allow Amiot to watch the Wildcats play next year. He says he will be in the stands at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium for all of Valdosta’s home games.
“I have a lot of friends on the team who will still be playing next year. I have to go support them,” he said. “It will be a little strange to see someone else wearing No. 68, though.”
Amiot considers playing football for the Valdosta Wildcats one of the highlights of his life so far.
“I really enjoyed playing football for Valdosta,” Amiot said. “I went to Valdosta High School so I could play football there. I mean, how many kids get to play football for Valdosta High? Everybody knows about Valdosta, and all the tradition we have here. So I’m glad I was able to play for the Wildcats.”
At Valdosta, Amiot was an undersized (6-foot-1, 190 pounds), overachieving, hard-working offensive lineman who played all five line positions at some point in his career. He started at left guard as a junior and right tackle as a senior. He was an honorable mention All-Region selection his senior season.
He also gained a reputation as a hard worker in the classroom, and it paid off — other than a B in geometry a couple of years ago, he has had all A’s at Valdosta.
“Thom is an outstanding young man, and we are very proud of him,” Valdosta High principal Brett Stanton said.
The Scholar Athlete award, sponsored by Texaco Havoline, the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation, Gallagher Electric and Engineering Company, the Georgia High School Association and the Greater Atlanta Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, is awarded annually to the top 40 scholar-athletes for football in the state of Georgia.
Local Sports
Valdosta’s Thom Amiot honored
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