Windsor High Student Given Rare Honor

For only the second time in school history, a Windsor High student was honored by the National Football Foundation Monday.

Senior Dwight Meggie was named a 2012 Scholar-Athlete by the organization, selected from a national pool of high school students nominated by their schools.

"This means a lot to me. We spend a lot of time out on the field, sometimes until six, seven o'clock, and then I have to get home and do homework — I'm taking (Advanced Placement) classes, so it takes a lot of time. I'm proud of myself," said Meggie, who will attend Uconn in the fall.

Windsor High Principal Russell Sills said he sees Meggie's accomplishment as an example of the school's emphasis on building well-rounded student-athletes.

"We have great kids, and I think there's always the assumption that because we're a great athletic school, we're not a great academic school. This helps us demonstrate that we're doing both.

"Dwight's just an exceptional young man. He exemplifies what we want all our kids at Windsor High to be."

"Dwight's one of those types of individuals that are just hard to come by... He's a great  student, a great athlete, a great friend. He's just a great human being, and you don't come across a guy like that too often," said Windsor High football coach Rob Fleeting, who is also receiving a special honor from the National Football Foundation this year: Coach of the Year.

Fleeting, who surpassed 100 career wins this past season and has been considered by many to be among the state's top football minds, said his recognition has created a special moment.

"Usually I get recognition from the kids that I work with... their parents, and faculty here... this is the first time I've been recognized as coach of the year by an organization outside of the one I work for."

The years of hard work are paying off, he added.

Both Meggie and Fleeting have been invited to a banquet for the National Football Foundation's presentation of this year's honorees, chosen from thousands of nominees across the nation.