Our first Student/Athlete of the Week is Belvidere’s Emma Salley.

The senior has been a four-year varsity runner for the Bucs’ girls cross country team, and served as captain. She also runs track and was selected the team’s MVP last spring.

In the classroom, Emma carries a 4.0 grade point average. She is also a member of National Honor Society, the B Club and Student Ambassadors.

Away from school, she volunteers at the local animal shelter, works with younger runners during summer camps and was chosen to attend the NIC-10 Leadership Conference this year.

She plans to attend Northern Illinois and major in Speech and Language Pathology.

The Sportsfan Studen/Athlete of the Week award is geared toward varsity athletes who excel in the school and in the community. You don’t have to be the star player, just a star student and a star person.

Anyone can nominate an athlete. Just go here and fill out the form.