ROCKINGHAM — Richmond Senior High School Class of 2024 graduate Abbie Player has been selected as the inaugural recipient of the 2024 Clark Cox Media and Journalism Award.
The Clark Cox Media and Journalism award was established by the Richmond Observer this past year in memory of the late Clark Cox and aims to honor an outstanding Richmond Senior High School media and journalism student who exemplifies the characteristics of a great journalist.
Cox was born in Ashe County and was the first recipient of the Morehead scholarship at UNC- Chapel Hill in that county. He spent most of his newspaper career at the Richmond County Daily Journal where he served in every news position and eventually editor before leaving to serve as associate news editor at The Pilot in Southern Pines.
Cox received many press awards for editorials, features, columns and investigative reporting. He also received an award from the North Carolina Historical Society for his true crime book, “Deadly Greed,” which covered the double murders of local politician Macio McEachern and his mother, which went unsolved for a year.
Player, who has been a media and journalism student since her 10th-grade year, was selected by this past year’s Richmond Senior High School Media and Journalism teacher Ashley Buie.
“Abbie has been the heart and soul of our yearbook staff. She started in 10th grade and quickly became an essential member of our team. She did incredible work in media journalism on our Raider News program and continued to shine in yearbook as well!” said Buie. “This last year, she took over as senior editor for the book and made sure that she created a cohesive and inclusive book for all her fellow classmates. She truly embodies the spirit of hard work and dedication that it takes to be a great storyteller and journalist.”
Player is a native of Richmond County North Carolina and attended Richmond Senior High school graduating in 2024. She is the daughter of Robbie and Sandy player and the sister of Alyse Melvin.
After graduating, she continued her education at Richmond Community College. She plans to enroll at Wingate University after graduating from RichmondCC to pursue a career in pharmacy.
