On the playing field, in order to have success — to stand out amongst one’s peers — poise, focus and determination must be shown.

In the classroom, the same applies.

Two years ago, The Robesonian teamed up with Mountaire Farms for the Scholar Athlete Award program in an effort to highlight the male and female student-athletes who consistently perform at a high level on the field and in the classroom.

This year, the program is expanding, as it the reward.

The pool of potential scholar-athlete recipients has widened to Bladen and Scotland counties — which include Scotland, East Bladen and West Bladen high schools — to make for the Mountaire/Heartland Scholar Athlete Award program.

With that, the winners will not only be featured in The Robesonian, but also The Bladen Journal and The Laurinburg Exchange, all owned by Heartland Publications, along with the Mountaire Farms quarterly newsletter.

Throughout the school year a spotlight will be shone on the monthly winners, who receive a personalized banner, crystallized trophy and, for the first year, each monthly winner will receive a $1,000 college scholarship. A feature story on the selected student-athletes will also be published.

And at the end of the school year, the winners will be combed through and two — one male and one female — will be plucked from the list and named the Mountaire/Heartland Scholar Athletes of the Year. They will receive an additional $1,500 for college and get more ink in The Robesonian, Bladen Journal, Laurinburg Exchange and Mountaire newsletter.

This column not only serves as an informative block of text about the new and improved Scholar Athlete Award program, but also a reminder to teachers, coaches and athletic directors to take a step back and scan their student-athlete horizon for those who fit this criteria: is a senior in high school; carries a 3.0 GPA or higher; displays outstanding sportsmanship; shows superior ability in athletic competition.

Winners should not just fit the criteria, but stand above it. Hit the books and hit the field harder than most. The first ones in the classrooms and on the fields and the last ones to leave.

As the old saying goes, the more nominees, the merrier.

Entries will be accepted from now through May 15, 2013, and should contain the following: Name and gender of student; school attending; name of school-sponsored sport(s) in which the student participates; verification of grades: either a copy of the previous marking period report card or a letter from school counselor stating student’s GPA (for this year’s first semester marking periods, please use student’s junior term final grades); written recommendation from his/her coach.

Entries can be submitted online at www.robesonian.com/pages/athlete_page, or mailed to: Mountaire/Heartland Scholar Athlete of the Month; Kaleb Roedel; P.O. Box 1028; Lumberton, N.C. 28358.