Varsity Brands Announces Most Spirited High School Students in Student Categories of 2017 School Spirit Awards

March 3, 2017

MEMPHIS, Tenn.– The Varsity Brands School Spirit Awards, presented by Varsity Spirit, Herff Jones and BSN SPORTS, has announced the finalists from 45 states in its 2017 School Spirit Awards’ Student categories including Varsity MVP Award, Magnificent Manager Award, Student to Celebrate Award, Superior Sportsmanship Award, Outstanding Student Section Award, Sound of Spirit Marching Band Award, Chorale Achievement Award, Mighty Mascot Award and Standout Student Film Award.

The second annual Varsity Brands School Spirit Awards celebrates the very best of America’s high schools with 23 categories and over $100,000 in award money to honor students, staff and school organizations that make a positive and lasting impact in their schools and communities. Through this initiative, Varsity Brands aims to elevate the student experience and promote school spirit nationwide.

“Varsity Brands is proud to recognize and honor the talented and dedicated students within our schools. These students inspire their communities through their hard work, energy, and commitment to school spirit,” said Jeff Webb, Founder and Chairman of Varsity Brands. “Students are the future leaders who will leave their mark on the world.”

VARSITY MVP AWARD
This award will honor one student-athlete who exemplify sportsmanship, leadership and teamwork. The Varsity MVP should be the “glue” of the team – someone who helps maintain morale no matter the circumstance. This student has as many teambuilding skills as athletic skills – he or she knows how to motivate, inspire and encourage teammates to work together, push harder and achieve the utmost success.

Finalists include:
• Janelle Gardner
Baker County High School
Glen Saint Mary, FL

• Isaiah Jones
Childersburg High School
Childersburg, AL

• Tess Reynolds
Grovetown High School
Grovetown, GA

• Katherine Berlin
Orange Park High School
Orange Park, FL

• Jacob Cryder
Tempe Preparatory Academy
Tempe, AZ

MAGNIFICENT MANAGER AWARD
This award will honor one dedicated student who loyally and eagerly assists athletic teams. This team manager keeps practices and games running smoothly so that the athletes can focus on bringing their best to the game. Teammates consider this person an invaluable and irreplaceable member of the team.

Finalists include:
• Matthew Chaffee
Cherokee High School
Marlton, NJ

• Abby Knott
Roosevelt High School
Portland, OR

• Kaleb Kerby
Saint Johns High School
Saint Johns, MI

• Haley Davis
Waverly Central High School
Waverly, TN

STUDENT TO CELEBRATE AWARD
This award will honor one student who has a deep and genuine love for his/her school. This student is driven, kind and well-rounded. He or she cares deeply about representing the school in the best possible light. He/she consistently attends school events and displays the utmost sportsmanship and school pride. This student also takes academics seriously, and challenges him or herself in the classroom.

Finalists include:
• Lindsay Tatum
Ballard Memorial High School
Barlow, KY

• Nicole Sacco
Cranston High School West
Cranston, RI

• Taylor Sampson
Corner Canyon High School
Draper, UT

• Tyra Ericson
Eden Prairie High School
Eden Prairie, MN

• Joshua Ardoin
St. Thomas More High School
Lafayette, LA

• Sofia Murtaugh
White Station High School
Memphis, TN

SUPERIOR SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
This award will honor one athletic team that shows respect and graciousness to opposing teams, referees and school groups. Even when the chips are down, this team roots for their players until the end. This team goes out of its way to welcome visiting opponents and maintains a positive attitude during all events.

Finalists include:
• Cleveland High School
Seattle, WA

• Narragansett High School
Narragansett, RI

• West Washington High School
Campbellsburg, IN

OUTSTANDING STUDENT SECTION AWARD
This award will honor a unified, organized and creative group of students who promote their school’s clubs and athletics with sportsmanship and style. This group recognizes that there’s power in numbers and brings a large group of supporters to home and away games. This group brings passion, enthusiasm and creativity to a variety of school events throughout the year.

Finalists include:
• Cedar Creek High School
Cedar Creek, TX

• Covington Catholic High School
Park Hills, KY

• Daniel Boone Area High School
Birdsboro, PA

• Franklin High School
Franklin, TN

• Pleasant Valley High School
Chico, CA

MIGHTY MASCOT AWARD
This award will honor one school mascot that understands and appreciates that success is about the person in the suit and the story behind the suit – a student dedicated to serving as a role model and spirited supporter of their school.

Finalists include:
• Noah Bozell
Anderson High School
Anderson, IN

• Hannah Grace Umphers
Christ Presbyterian Academy
Nashville, TN

• Seth Moyers
Fayetteville High School
Fayetteville, TN

• Brendan Mohan
Rootstown High School
Rootstown, OH

STANDOUT STUDENT FILM AWARD
For this award, students were invited to produce a five-minute film about their school. Students were asked to film a video that is upbeat, suitable for general audiences, made completely by students, and focused on a school-spirit theme.
Finalists include:
• Cherry Creek High School
Greenwood Village, CO

• Cedar Creek High School
Cedar Creek, TX

• Fort Walton Beach High School
Fort Walton Beach, FL

• Great Oak High School
Temecula, CA

SOUND OF SPIRIT MARCHING BAND AWARD
This award will honor one marching band who brings talent, innovation and dedication to school events. Most importantly – this band lives for game night and eagerly takes on the responsibility of providing weekly entertainment to school fans. Finalists include:

• Coldwater High School, Coldwater, MI
• Fort Walton Beach High School, Fort Walton Beach, FL
• McGill-Toolen Catholic High School, Mobile, AL
• Pace High School, Pace, FL
• Park Vista High School, Lake Worth, FL
• Washington High School, Fremont, CA

CHORALE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
This award is for a chorale program that contributes to overall school atmosphere by providing high-quality performances to a variety of school and community events. Finalists include:

• Burlington High School (A Cappella Choir)
Burlington, WI

• Danville High School (Show Choir)
Danville, IA

• Mount Carmel Academy (Choir)
New Orleans, LA

• Somerville High School (Chamber Choir)
Somerville, NJ

• St. Vincent de Paul Catholic High School (Choir)
Perryville, MO

The $25,000 grand prize award, America’s Most Spirited High School, will honor one high school that demonstrates unparalleled school spirit and community pride. The winner of this category will be determined by online voting at varsitybrands.com, and the public can vote for their favorite. Winners from all 23 categories will be announced in an award ceremony on May 15th, at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Orlando, Florida.

To learn more about Varsity Brands and its School Spirit Awards, please visit varsitybrands.com