Individuals recognized for their leadership, commitment and outstanding efforts in promoting the positive values and life lessons that sport instills.
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) today announced the Gold winners of its second annual USADA True Sport Awards program, produced in partnership with Discovery Education. USADA is proud to recognize the winners of this dynamic program for their outstanding efforts aimed at improving the lives of young students and athletes through the inspiring lessons learned through sport.
The USADA True Sport Awards program, winner of a 2010 Mom’s Choice Award® for online family-friendly resources, encourages teachers, coaches, school administrators, and other community program leaders, to implement youth programs that encourage positive life lessons using sport as a platform. Program topics include: competing clean and avoiding performance enhancing drugs; proper nutrition and body image; nutritional supplement safety; and competing in sports with fair play, integrity, honesty, and respect for your opponents.
Leaders implement their programs under the guidance of the USADA education curricula, That’s Dope (for high-school students) and 100% Me (for middle school students). The curricula, which meet national education standards, are available free for download through USADA’s education tools outreach website and through the Discovery Education True Sport Awards website.
“What we have seen, heard and recognized is that in today’s society, sport is an ever-increasing influence on the culture and value-system of our youth,” commented USADA Communications & Outreach Director, Erin Hannan. “There is a significant opportunity for our country’s teachers, coaches, parents, and community leaders to instill positive life lessons and teach important values as it relates to sport, and these winners have done just that.”
Nine entrants have been selected as USADA True Sport Award Gold winners, all of whom submitted rigorous, meaningful program proposals aimed at empowering youth to seek positive life experiences through the powerful vehicle of sport. This year’s Gold winners are:
- Cindy Housner (Lake Forest, IL)
- Rosanne Keathley (Huntsville, TX)
- Brian Keller (Bennington, VT)
- Vicki Laskowski (Bagdad, AZ)
- Karen Lozano (Modesto, CA)
- Mike Spinka (Boyertown, PA)
- Jon Syre (Bradenton, FL)
- Brook Webb (Bakersfield, CA)
- Silvia Maldonado (El Paso, TX)
Each USADA True Sport Award Gold winner receives program funding for their school or organization
to implement their winning proposal, and the opportunity to participate in a USADA educator’s summit. USADA Athlete Ambassadors, including April Holmes, Lauryn Williams, Dee Dee Trotter, and Augusto Perez, also will visit the winner and share their personal stories and positive messages through live appearances with youth program participants. In addition, Gold winners are provided a pocket video camera, a commendation award and a one-year subscription to Discovery Education Health, a comprehensive health and prevention digital classroom resource. Winners will utilize the cameras to document their journeys as they implement their programs. Ten Silver winners and ten Bronze winners are also selected by the judges for their submissions
All entries for the USADA True Sport Awards were submitted online between July 19, and Nov. 1, 2010. Proposals were judged based on content, originality, creativity, feasibility, clarity, and adherence to program guidelines. For more information on the 2010 USADA True Sport Awards please visit http://usadatruesport.discoveryeducation.com/
About USADA
USADA is the non-profit, independent and non-governmental entity responsible for the testing and results management process in the U.S. for athletes in the Olympic and Paralympic Movement, upholding the Olympic ideal of fair play, and representing the interests of athletes. USADA is dedicated to preserving the integrity of sport through research initiatives and educational programs. The agency manages a drug reference phone hotline and Global Drug Reference Online, conducts educational sessions with National Governing Bodies and their athletes, and proactively distributes a multitude of educational materials, such as curriculums, themed brochures and nutrition and dietary guides, easy-reference wallet cards for the prohibited substance list, periodic newsletters, and protocol and policy reference publications, all of which can be found at www.USADA.org.
About Discovery Education
Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) revolutionized television with Discovery Channel and is now transforming classrooms through Discovery Education. Powered by the number one nonfiction media company in the world, Discovery Education combines scientifically proven, standards-based digital media and a dynamic user community in order to empower teachers to improve student achievement. Already, more than half of all U.S. schools access Discovery Education digital services. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.