DALRY teenager Shannon Murray admits she is stunned to be nominated for a national award after being named as a finalist at the sportscotland Year of Young People Awards 2018.

sportscotland, the national agency for sport, are teaming up with Scottish Sports Futures to host the gala event to showcase how sport can be used for positive social change and to celebrate the incredible dedication of the young people who give selflessly to sport in their local communities.

Shannon’s work at Shell Twilight Basketball in Dalry is a perfect example of that and it has led to her nomination in the Dedication to Personal Development category.

Shell Twilight Basketball is a national programme which provides basketball sessions combined with education and life skills to children and young adults.

The nomination caps a whirlwind year for the 16-year-old, who has being attending the Dalry initiative for less than a year, but incredibly was made a young ambassador in April meaning Shannon now helps the coaches during sessions and volunteers at events.

She said: “It was a big surprise, I didn’t have a clue I would be nominated.

“I’ve being going to Twilight Basketball for less than a year. I’m an ambassador already so it was quite a quick transition.

“Now I take the warm ups, I shadow the coaches to get a rough idea of what they do and how they do it. I volunteer at other events. I’ve done a lot of volunteering now and it’s earned me a lot of qualifications.

“I feel a lot more confident now and it’s given me a sense of independence. Being given the responsibility of being an ambassador has really helped me focus and given me a different outlook on certain things.”

Shannon has quickly taken to her role as ambassador and insists she loves the work she does with younger children. While helping her own development, it is also giving Shannon a headstart towards her dream of becoming a primary teacher, which she is currently working towards at Garnock Community Campus.