KINGSFORD - A Kingsford High School junior was named to the Michigan Hall of Fame for Athletes with Disabilities last month.

Kelly Allen of Kingsford received the Mark Andrews Rising Star Award from the hall of fame. She competes on the KHS skiing and tennis teams under coaches Doug Hill and Ellette Nyman, respectively.

Kelly accepted the award at a banquet in Rochester Hills. Others honored at the banquet included paralympians, sports writers and activists.

Kelly is the daughter of Barb and John Allen of Kingsford.

The Rising Star Award is given to young athletes who demonstrate extraordinary effort, achievement and commitment as an athlete with a disability.

Kelly also competes in an annual extreme sports competition for disabled athletes. She has taken home two gold medals in women's kayaking and a silver medal in rock climbing.

In addition, Kelly was recently honored with the 2009 Gil Heard Courageous Athlete Award given by the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.

Community involvement is also a priority in Kelly's life. She annually serves as a junior counselor and peer mentor at Camp Yes-I-Can, a summer program for young amputees held at Bay Cliff Health Camp.

She is a regular participant in Amputeam activities throughout the state with the goal "to inspire and assist others as they overcome obstacles to enjoy uncommon success."

In accepting the Rising Star Award, Kelly thanked both her family and friends for their support.

"I'd also like to thank all of my coaches and mentors who've treated me with respect and taken the time to help me work around obstacles," she said.

Among those she talked about, Kelly mentioned Teck Khor of Teck's Martial Arts and her team of prosthetists at Wright and Fillipis in Marquette.

Kelly was born with PFFD, a rare condition that affects musculo-skeletal development and she has been wearing a prosthetic leg all her life.

Kelly is the granddaughter of Art Allen of Manistique, who is a member of the the NMU and U.P. Hall of Fame.