Holland Miller puts in extra effort helping younger student athletes at Wilson Christian Academy

"Twelve racing dachshunds go galloping past," Holland Miller read to a classroom full of elementary students. "Giddy-up, giddy-up they move so fast."

It's story time at Wilson Christian Academy and Miller is taking some time out from her day.

"They've had a great time on this glorious day," She finished to applause from the classroom. On the walls are posters with phrases like "kindness starts here" and "help each other." They are phrases that are part of the culture at Wilson Christian and words to live by for Miller.

"People are just nicer here," Miller said. "They care about how you feel and they want to be nice to you."

Miller is now a senior at Wilson Christian Academy. She started attending the K-12 school in sixth grade. She not only reads to younger students, she coaches through a program called Upward connected to a local church.

"They are fifth grade boys," Miller laughed. "Most of them listen, most of the time."

On the Wilson Christian Academy Chargers court the boys are all ears as Miller explained the 1-2-2 zone.

"Ball goes to the corner," Miller directed. "Micah you're going to go out."

She understands defensive rotations as a rebounding and defensive specialist on the varsity basketball team.

"She's a bulldog," girls basketball coach and Wilson Christian Administrator of Athletics Brian Trull said. "Dives on the floor, goes after loose balls...she does the things that other people don't."

She does the little things in basketball, but in softball she's known for winning games with one swing of the bat.

"She's got a tremendous bat," Wilson Christian softball coach Carrie Reynell said. "I know it's been a frustrating last couple of years because not many teams want to face her they don't even give her an opportunity."

Forty-two career home runs will earn that kind of respect. So will six seasons on the team. At Wilson Christian the varsity team ranges from sixth graders to seniors.

"To go from a young fiery twelve year old to the young lady she is today has been quite impressive to see the growth," Reynell said.

Next season Miller will play softball for UNC Wilmington. She remembers being mentored by older players and now she's trying to pay it forward.

"I just like having an opportunity to help the little sixth and seventh graders that need that help," Miller said. "Just giving them that person."

Miller's accomplishments in athletics, the classroom and community earned her WRAL's Tom Suiter Extra Effort Award.

"An impressive young lady I know she'll be excellent in whatever she does," Troll said. "I look forward to following whatever she does as she moves to the next step of her career. We are going to miss her."

"It means a lot," Miller said about receiving the award. "Feels like it's all paid off."