In 2018, Allison Carroll, a Hillgrove High School graduate and University of Georgia alumna, lost her life in a car accident just before she was to begin teaching at Dowell Elementary School. To honor her memory and commitment to education and service, her family and friends established the Allison Carroll Forever 14 Scholarship Fund with the Cobb Community Foundation. The scholarship awards $1,000 to Hillgrove students who display strong character and a passion for making a positive impact.
Allison Carroll was known for her involvement in mission work both domestically and abroad, as well as her dedication to academics and basketball during her time at Hillgrove. After earning her degree in Education from UGA, she returned to Cobb County to teach.
The Forever 14 Girls Basketball Showcase took place over the weekend at Hillgrove’s Fowler Gymnasium, featuring 12 teams, including six from Cobb Schools: Hillgrove, McEachern, Pebblebrook, Pope, Sprayberry, and Walton. The event marked the beginning of the season for these teams and raised approximately $4,500 for the scholarship fund.
“This was our fifth year of hosting the showcase and was probably the best one,” said Hillgrove Head Coach Sue Milam. “We had the largest amount of teams participate and raised about $4500 for the scholarship fund. Several basketball media outlets were in attendance, as well as college recruiters.”
Games included matchups such as Walton defeating Collins Hill 72-68—Lauren Kent being named Player of the Game—and Sprayberry winning against Pebblebrook 65-33 with Mikyla Wilson recognized for her performance. Pope overcame McEachern 52-44 with Abbey Bensman as Player of the Game. The host team Hillgrove Hawks won their game against South Gwinnett 71-55; Kierra Jackson received Player of the Game honors after scoring 26 points along with six rebounds and five steals.
Coach Milam expressed satisfaction with her team’s efforts: “I was pleased with our team’s performance,” Coach Milam said after the game. “I thought they set the tone of the game with their defensive intensity and did a good job with offensive execution and shared the ball well.” Standout performances also came from Aeris Macon (21 points) and Shelby McCall (seven points).
Reflecting on Allison Carroll’s legacy beyond athletics, Coach Milam stated: “Having coached Allison, this cause is very dear to me. I watched her grow up, and I know her parents. I love that we are able to give back to Hillgrove students who excel in sports and academics, and who share the same moral compass that directed Allison’s life. The scholarship is a great way to continue to shine the light that Allison put into the world,” Coach Milam concluded.
