We recognize the accomplishments of Howard Countians in every issue, but in this one you'll find stories about some people to whom we wanted to give a little extra shout-out as the fall sports season comes to a head and we approach the holidays.
One is Ginger Kincaid, who has been the field hockey coach at Glenelg High School for 35 years. Kincaid's Gladiators repeated as 2A state champions this past weekend as they defeated Poolesville in the final at Washington College in Chestertown.
Kincaid's dynasty is impressive, but it's the influence she has on her players as people that inspires. Jim Mundy, a former teacher at Glenelg whose daughter had played for Kincaid and then at Vanderbilt University, summed it up in a letter he wrote to Kincaid and copied to us after Saturday's victory.
"The fans will one day stop cheering and the crowd noise will dim, but the value of a team effort, the value of team support and the value of team friendship that you instilled will make your players value others for the rest of their lives. And after all, isn't that what sport is all about? It's about building character and strengthening values. It's about not disregarding your values to simply win," Mundy wrote. "Penn State could take a page from your playbook, as could everyone.
"Congratulations on winning. And, congratulations on the state championship as well."
The other woman we want to single out for above-and-beyond effort is Columbia resident Rachel Quade, whom 27,000 poor people can thank for putting shoes on their feet.
Quade set out four months ago to collect 50,000 pairs of shoes for Soles4Souls, a Nashville nonprofit. While she fell short of her goal, she stands tall in terms of marshalling efforts for a good cause. Quade reckons she enlisted help from 21 schools, 10 churches, seven Columbia village centers, three gyms and two colleges.
"People from everywhere would come and help," Quade said. "The best way I know how to describe it is, it was like Christmas. Every time we would get shoes would be like Christmas. This wasn't for me, but it still felt that way, because I knew it would be so much hope for those kids."
Next week we'll present many opportunities for you to make a difference in the lives of neighbors in need as we publish Share Your Blessings, our annual accounting of the wish lists of Howard County charities.