TRENTON — For the first time in its history, the Positive Athlete organization is recognizing local athletes from all across the state of Missouri with dedicated awards.

“These high-character kids have been nominated and confirmed by their schools as the most representative of “How Positive Athletes O.P.E.R.A.T.E: Optimistic, Puts Team First, Encouraging, Respectful, Admits Imperfections, True Heart for Others and Embraces Service,” reads a release from Positive Athlete organization.

This year, Positive Athlete is naming 18 different individuals as the “Most Positive” in Missouri, including 14 high school student-athletes, three coaches and one athletic trainer. Over 6,400 nominations from coaches, principals, athletic directors, teachers and parents were submitted for the Positive Athlete program statewide, representing over 440 public and private high schools.

Trenton High School student-athlete Jacob White was named to the list. White is a member of Trenton’s wrestling, football and baseball teams.

CEO & businessman Scott Pederson created Positive Athlete in the early 2010s as a movement for more positivity in youth sports. In addition to excellence on the field, each nominated Positive Athlete was required to show the above characteristics in order to be nominated. Positive Athlete has awarded more than $700,000 in scholarships around the country.