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MAYFIELD - Chloe VanAlstine didn't participate in the eighth annual Adirondack Spinatcular Saturday afternoon, but she did show up at the Mayfield Fairgrounds at about noon in time to wait nearly an hour for the awards ceremony.

When the ceremony did start, VanAlstine, who was born with tethered cord syndrome and also suffers from asthma, accepted a ceremonial $1,000 check for the Lawrence Madeiros Memorial Scholarship, which goes every year to a student with an inherited bleeding disorder or other chronic disorder attending an accredited college or university.

She plans to attend Ithaca College in the fall.

VanAlstine, who graduated from Wells Central School District in June, overcame her disorder and played soccer, basketball and softball among other extracurricular activities. She also was a lifeguard and was credited with saving the life of a man last November after he lost control of his car and fell into Lake Algonquin. Thinking quickly, she dove in the water and pulled him out.

The loudest praise for VanAlstine came in a letter, written by Wells Superintendent Gavin Murdoch and read by Carol Madeiros, the wife of Lawrence Madeiros Saturday afternoon.

"She is a rare individual who puts others before herself," Murdoch wrote in the letter. Murdoch wrote that he got to know VanAlstine better after the November incident and wrote that "he became even more impressed with her after learning" she had been born with tethered cord syndrome.

Six others were awarded scholarships this year: Josh Rozerfeld of Caldwell, N.J., Stephen Nicolasi of Charles Summit, Pa.; Chelsea Howell of Louisville, Ky., Stuart Mott of Wanwatosa, Wisc., Olivia Lee of Rochester and Andrew Reid of Huntington.

Mike Zummo can be reached by e-mail at montco@leaderherald.com.