Former Bainbridge High School cross-country and track performer Richie Hughes, who went on to earn junior college Academic All-American honors while running cross country at Albany’s Darton College, has just completed U.S. Marine Corps basic training.

Hughes, who is now a private first class in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, will attend the University of Georgia following training at North Carolina Marine bases Camp Geiger and Camp Lejeune.

He will enroll at the University of Georgia in January and pursue a degree in psychology.

During his high school career, Hughes, the son of Richard and Lori Hughes and the late Elisabeth Alday Hughes, won the academic award in track and cross country, and the coaches’ award and most-improved award in cross country. His feature event in track was the 2-mile run.

When asked to name role models in his life, the 2009 Bainbridge High School graduate listed his parents, his Bearcats cross country coach Mandi O’Mara, his high school weight training coach Carl Elliott, his former Bearcats cross country coach Roy Zimmerman and his Darton cross-country coaches David Mann and Bruce Skiles. He said they encouraged him to work hard and excell in the classroom and on the athletic fields.