When ninth grader Cammie Weaver and senior Justin Ferguson joined a host of other students in reorganizing Opp High School’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes, they never dreamed they’d earn recognition from their peers.

The pair was recently honored for their leadership at the annual Wiregrass FCA banquet.

“FCA has been a really big part of my high school years,” Ferguson said, who played basketball during his time at OHS. “It’s been a great support system and the Bible study on Friday mornings is something I look forward to every week. It was a great honor to receive the recognition.

“I was really excited when I found out I received it and to be honored like that with a bunch of people I knew throughout the area,” he said. “It’s one of the greatest awards I have ever gotten in my life.”

Weaver agreed.

“As a Christian, Christ is supposed to be in every area of my life,” she said. “And since I’m at school a lot, it needs to be here. When your life is right with Christ, everything else falls into place.”

Weaver, who plays volleyball for the Bobcats, said she was shocked to receive the award.

“I expected an older athlete,” she said. “Coach (Jimmy) Reeves saw me as a leader even though I’m only in the ninth grade.”

Both Weaver and Ferguson are members of Westview Baptist Church’s youth group, and Weaver said a good many of those students are involved in FCA.

“It’s great that we are all in it together,” she said. “It’s a great support system.”

Sponsor and Assistant Principal Jimmy Reeves said the organization meets Friday mornings at 7.

“We have about 20 regular students that are actively involved,” he said. “They get up early, and we have a devotion and worship music. It’s a great way to start the morning and end the week with spiritual growth.”

Ferguson agreed.

“It’s a great way for everybody to kind of get together and share what struggles you might be going through,” he said. “It’s been a great thing for the school. We’ve had two or three different people be in charge of the organization. It’s gotten a lot of support from the administrators and the teachers.”

Weaver and Reeves said next year the organization hopes to team up with local churches and youth pastors to come in and share a devotion to hopefully help the grow the ministry.

“It’s important because more people will see how Christ can affect your life,” Weaver said.

Reeves said he was proud that the pair represented Opp’s FCA.

“They are very good leaders,” he said.

Ferguson is the son of Scott and Jennifer Ferguson, and Weaver is the daughter of Tracy and Laura Weaver.