The 2012 Rotary Champions Awards Ceremony was held on Wednesday, May 2nd. For the awards, 405 student-athletes were nominated by 30 high schools in the Pikes Peak region. The Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year was Ryan Arata of Lewis-Palmer High School. Amelia Evans of Air Academy High School was chosen as the Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
The photographer at the event was Mr. Christopher Waldron of Waldron's Photography. Please visit the company's website for contact information. www.waldronsphotography.com
Rotary Champions is an annual event presented by the Rotary clubs of the Pikes Peak Region. The awards ceremony is held to honor outstanding scholar-athletes from El Paso and Teller County high schools who have placed a high value on academics and leadership in school, community, and home.
At our annual awards ceremony, recognition is given to approximately 440 outstanding scholar-athletes from 39 high schools throughout the Pikes Peak Region. From this elite group, 24 nominees, each representing a CHSAA-sanctioned sport, are awarded a Champions Medallion. The top female and male scholar-athletes are selected to receive our Rotary Champion Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award, which includes an impressive Soaring Eagle trophy and a $5,000 college scholarship.
In its 28-year history, Rotary Champions has awarded 48 scholarships totaling $220,000.
The Rotary Champions Foundation is a Colorado 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit corporation.
Qualified Nominees:
The minimum requirements for nomination include: participation in a CHSAA sanctioned varsity sport; 3.0 grade point average or higher; and evidence of leadership in school, community, and home.
Nominees will be instructed by their coach or Athletic Director to complete the Champions application via our website. User names and passwords are provided by the Athletic Director.
Please click here for the Rotary Champions 2012 Nomination Form.
Ticket Information:
Admission is complimentary for all Champion nominees as well as for guest ages 12 and under. Tickets for family members and guests are available for $10 each. Tickets can be obtained either at the Pikes Peak Center or World Arena box office, or over the telephone by calling 719-477-2122 between the hours of 10 am and 6 pm. Tickets purchased over the telephone will be available at will-call for pick-up the day of the event.
Guest Speaker:
The guest speaker for the 2012 awards ceremony will be former NFL football star, Karl Mecklenburg. In 1983, the Denver Broncos drafted Mecklenburg in the 12th round. In spite of his low selection, Mecklenburg went on to become an integral part of the Broncos' Super Bowl teams of the 1980s. He played in six Pro Bowls. His 79.5 sacks ranks is the second highest total in franchise history. He was inducted into the Broncos' Ring of Fame in 2001 and he is also in the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.
Former guest speakers for this event include Bart Starr, Gayle Sayers, Bill McCartney, Lynne Cox, Fisher DeBerry and Hugh McCutcheon.
2011-12 Event Calendar:
Dec. 2, 2011 - Fall Nominations Due
Feb. 10, 2012- Winter Nominations Due
April 9, 2012- Spring Nominations Due
April 9, 2012- Group Pictures
May 2, 2012- Event Date
Program Sponsors:
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