Former Vicksburg High sprinter and current Jackson State trackster Marlon Maxey is the first recipient of the Kevin C. Dent Scholarship award.

Rep. George Flaggs (D-Vicksburg) helped establish the $1,000 scholarship award in honor of Dent, who in 2006 was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Dent played basketball and football at Vicksburg High and then went on to star at Jackson State.

“We were looking to help somebody go to college and the person we want it to go to should have strong academics, be a good citizen, as well as being a good athlete,” Dent said.

They found that someone in Maxey, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Maxey, who is a freshman on Jackson State’s track and field team.

After helping Vicksburg to a top five finish in the Class 4A meet last spring, Maxey had a strong summer. He went to the Junior Nationals in Detroit and also ran in the AAU Regional meet in New Orleans and the United States Track Association Regionals in Alabama.

Maxey has also excelled in the classroom, finishing his time at VHS with a 3.6 grade point average. He is currently on a full academic scholarship at JSU.

The Dent award will be given annually to an athlete in Warren County selected by Dent. It will be based on academics, citizenship and athletic ability. Applications for the 2009 award will be available at the four Vicksburg area high schools’ guidance offices beginning in April.

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Contact Jeff Byrd at jbyrd@vicksburgpost.com