Cox Sports Television (www.cox-sports.com) will recognize the Ocean State’s best high school scholar-athletes from each sport for every season at tonight's inaugural Cox Rhode Island Sports Awards, beginning at 7:30 at the Providence Performing Arts Center at 220 Weybossett St.

In addition to recognizing more than 100 of Rhode Island’s top scholar-athletes, the event, presented by Amica, will also feature the presentation of the Breakthrough Athlete of the Year to Boston Celtic and former Providence College All-American Ryan Gomes and the Vanguard Award to BIG EAST Commissioner Mike Tranghese.

Others expected to participate in the ceremony are Governor Donald L. Carcieri, ESPN’s Doris Burke, Green Bay Packers and former Boston College and Bishop Hendricken standout Will Blackmon, PC basketball standout Herbert Hill, Boston Celtics President Richard Gotham and BIG EAST founder Dave Gavitt .