A Portage la Prairie athlete earned accolades to help her academic future, as her high school playing career winds down.

Graduating Portage Collegiate Institute multi-sport standout Bailey Grantham was awarded two scholarships in Winnipeg Thursday, as the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association dispersed its basketball and hockey bursaries.

Grantham was presented the $1,000 Sami Jo Small Award sponsored by the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame & Museum and the $2,000 Alexander Josephson Memorial Scholarship.

“I thought I was just up for one so getting the second one was a very big surprise,” said Grantham. “I'm pleased that I have it and that all my hard work paid off.”

Grantham, who recorded 31 goals and 50 points in 22 regular season games with the PCI Saints, was named a Winnipeg Women's High School Hockey League All-Star this past season. The Saints captain said playing high school hockey was a memorable experience.

“You can still have a social life. You can still work and play other sports. It really made a difference, four years of it. It made it so enjoyable.”

Grantham will attend the University of Manitoba this fall and plans to enrol in the Faculty of Science.