IVY, VIRGINIA

Photo by Cathy Long, www.whatalongshot.com

Lacrosse star Jordan Haws is Virginia AA female athlete of year.

A bump in the road of life facing 12-year-old Jordan Haws was smoothed out by a group of young women she didn't know, and they had never met her.

After spending all her years in the Salt Lake Valley, she was soon to be transplanted with her family from Draper, Utah, to Virginia where her father, Brad Haws, had a new job with the University of Virginia.

The thought of moving "was a little scary at first," Jordan said in a telephone interview with the Church News. But before she moved, all the Young Women of her future ward, the Charlottesville 2nd Ward, wrote her letters welcoming her.

That kindness shown by her peers got her off to a good start, and she has thrived for years in the small community of Ivy. A stellar student and athlete at Western Albemarle High School, Jordan was recently named the Group AA Female Athlete of the Year by the Allstate Foundation and the Virginia High School League (VHSL).

Recently graduated, Jordan earned 14 varsity letters in high school sports — four in lacrosse, four in indoor track, three in outdoor track, two in field hockey and one in cross country. She was a U.S. Lacrosse honorable mention all-American. Among her academic accolades, she is a member of the National Honor Society and is a National Merit Scholar. She was a class officer for two years at Western Albemarle. Her volunteer activities, according to the VHSL, include coaching middle school lacrosse and establishing a fundraiser to support an organization that funds South African women's completion of secondary and post-secondary education.

Looking back on what could have been a traumatic move for a 12-year-old, Jordan said that, along with the letters, the Young Women in her Virginia ward greeted her with open arms and kindness when she arrived. That was especially helpful when, shortly after her family moved, her grandmother passed away, necessitating an immediate trip back to Utah for the funeral. Besides new friends, she said she was blessed with "a lot of comfort from the Lord. He helped me understand what was going on."

After making a soft landing in Virginia, Jordan said things got even better as she was supported by even more friends — including many of other faiths, family and coaches. She said she believes she was blessed by "putting my trust in the Lord."

Among other things, "he has put coaches in my life who have been easy to work with," she said. Among the coaches is her mom, Nancy Haws, who coaches her in lacrosse. Jordan added that she has been blessed by not having to compete on Sundays, something remarkable considering the level at which she plays lacrosse.

While enjoying athletic and academic success and a full social life, Jordan also made seminary attendance a priority in her life and recently graduated.

Though it meant getting up extra early in the morning, Jordan said she was excited to begin early-morning seminary in ninth grade. Since youth in her ward attend two different high schools, they were split into two seminary classes. She said she got very close to the six or so in her class.

She has always had friends outside the Church. She said that they are accepting of her religion, though they are surprised by how long she goes to church each Sunday. Those around her generally hold to the same values she does, though the enticements of many bad things of the world are all around her. "I see the Lord's hand in helping me find a group of friends who help me avoid those things," she said.

Though she was recruited by schools in the east to play lacrosse, she will attend BYU in the fall, playing club lacrosse.