Students participating in the District 11 Annual Ron Hein Track and Field Festival on Thursday, May 12, 2011 will be treated to a special visit by April Holmes, Paralympic Gold medalist and Athlete Ambassador for the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). Holmes will also speak to students at Russell Middle School, sharing her experience overcoming obstacles, and about how to make decisions in life based on the Six Pillars of Character®- Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring & Citizenship.
Holmes is the current world record holder in her class in the 100, 200 and 400m, and courageously rebounded from a bad fall in the 200m to win her second straight Paralympic Gold medal in the 100m at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China.
Off the track, Holmes runs the April Holmes Foundation, a non-profit organization that assists people with physical and learning disabilities with obtaining scholarships and medical equipment. Having recently completed her MBA in marketing, Holmes plans to use her education to improve awareness of people with disabilities.
The 31st Annual Ron Hein Track and Field Festival will be held at Garry Berry Stadium, 2115 Afton Way, Colorado Springs, CO starting at 8am. The event is for 5th grade students highlighting their physical skills in running, jumping, throwing, and team relays. Students are selected by their Physical Education teachers to represent their school at this prestigious event.
Holmes will participate in the Parade of Champions at the Garry Berry Stadium at 8am and the Awards Presentation at 1:30pm in the Wasson High School gymnasium. Elementary students in District #11 have learned about the Six Pillars of Character that is part of the USADA Curriculum, “100% Me” that has been adopted District – wide.
If you have any questions about April Holmes and her attendance at the event, please contact USADA Media Relations Manager, Annie Skinner at (719) 785-2046 or askinner@usada.org
If you have any questions about School District 11 or the Ron Hein Track and Field Festival, please Contact Peggy Vigil at (719) 520-2038 or vigilps@d11.org
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