LeadAmerica and Amateur Athletic Union Partner to Launch New High School Sullivan Award

BOCA RATON, Fla., Feb. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- LeadAmerica, one of the nation's educational leaders in personalized experiential learning designed to better prepare middle and high school students for their transition to college and future career, announced today a three-year partnership with the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) to create the new annual High School Sullivan Award. The Sullivan trophy and a $10,000 scholarship will be awarded to one male and one female high school athlete based upon his or her achievement in sport, citizenship and academics. Six additional students will receive the Sullivan medallion and a $2,500 scholarship. LeadAmerica is the sponsor of the award and will assist AAU with marketing to its alumni, educator, student and parent community.

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To be considered for the award, high school athletes must submit an online application. Students and principals interested in learning more can find additional information by logging on to www.highschoolsullivan.org. The nomination period began on February 14, 2011 and the award will be presented during the summer of 2011.

"It is a tremendous honor for LeadAmerica to partner with the AAU. Both our organizations have a strong commitment to inspiring and empowering young people to reach their full potential while instilling a sense of purpose, integrity, self-confidence and personal responsibility," said Terrence Stecz, CEO of LeadAmerica. "Through the estimated 7.5 million high school students who participate in sports annually, and the thousands who are involved in AAU related activities, LeadAmerica will be given a powerful platform to engage these student athletes to prepare effectively for a successful transition to college and their careers. High school athletic coaches play an integral role in building confidence and independence among students and positively inspire their future paths."

Since 1930, the AAU has awarded the annual Sullivan Award to the top amateur athlete in the nation. Considered the "Oscar" of sports awards, it has been presented to prominent athletes including Michelle Kwan, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Tim Tebow, and Shawn Johnson.

"LeadAmerica is a perfect fit to partner with the AAU in launching the new High School Sullivan Award," said AAU President and CEO Bobby Dodd. "We are also thankful that the USA Today is assisting in the online voting process. Fostering strong leadership skills and recognizing today's high school students for how well they exemplify the amateur creed is a philosophy all of our organizations are passionate about."  

Through the partnership, LeadAmerica will have the opportunity to promote their college and career readiness programs to the entire AAU global community through advertising, marketing, speaking engagements and branding. They will also have a presence at key AAU summer athletic programs across the country.

"Enrollment and awareness surrounding LeadAmerica is growing in all parts of the country," said Andrew H. Potter, M.A., M.A., Director of Academics. "By partnering with AAU, we will be able to emphasize the importance of college readiness and preparedness to many new audiences."

LeadAmerica is one of the nation's most respected youth development organizations devoted to providing acclaimed college-level academic experiences that deliver tangible improvements in college and career readiness. LeadAmerica offers a diverse curriculum, a highly engaging and rigorous academic experience with hands-on interactive workshops and simulations to immerse students in their chosen field or topic. The college-accredited, career-focused conferences are offered for a minimum of five days or a maximum of 10 days and are held in the spring and throughout the summer at leading universities across the United States, including Stanford, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins and Columbia. To learn more about LeadAmerica, visit lead-america.org or contact a Program Advisor at 1-866-FYI-LEAD (1-866-394-5323).  

About LeadAmerica:

LeadAmerica is one of the nation's educational leaders in personalized experiential learning designed to better prepare middle and high school students for their transition to college and future career.  Its conferences offer outstanding students the opportunity to explore their future path and discover what inspires them the most. Students gain valuable knowledge and the experience of real college life, on campus, at some of the greatest schools in the country. All LeadAmerica curriculums are college-accredited and have been approved by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) for the seventh consecutive year.

About AAU:

The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest, non-profit, volunteer, sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs for all ages. Nearly 600,000 participants and over 50,000 volunteers share our philosophy of "Sports for All, Forever." Divided into 58 distinct associations, the AAU sanctions more than 34 sports programs, 250 national championships and over 10,000 local events across the United States annually.

SOURCE LeadAmerica