Monday, December 13, 2010

W.O.W Awards: Winners Outside of Workout at Park Avenue Gymnastics!

Park Avenue Gymnastics recognizes the importance of acknowledging our outstanding athletes not only for their successes in the gym, but also for their outstanding achievements outside of workout, both in school and in their community. Team Coach Kathy Semok has developed an award for members of Park Avenue's Competitive Girls Team called the "W.O.W. Award". This award is designed to put a spotlight on our team girls who are making a difference outside of Park Avenue. Team girls are nominated for the award and a new "W.O.W" winner is announced each month. We will be posting the monthly W.O.W. Winners on the bulletin board in the gym and right here on the "Park-Ave-A-News" BLOG! Since the BLOG is new, we will catch you up on the last 3 months of W.O.W's right here!!!

Our First W.O.W. Winner (September):  
Meagan Schafer - PERFECT on the SAT's!!!!!
“W.O.W.” is a monthly award to recognize a team member at Park Avenue that excels in something outside of gym.  Meagan Schafer is September’s “W.O.W.” award recipient.  Meagan is a Level 8 gymnast and has been on our competitive team since 2001.  Meagan is also a senior at Western High School.  Meagan is a very hard working athlete and is a positive role model in the gym.  Gymnastics is a challenging sport, and Meagan never gives up.  She trains hard every workout in pursuit of her goals.  In school Meagan is an excellent student.  She was chosen as our first “W.O.W.” award because this summer Meagan scored a perfect score of 800 on the math section of her SAT.   Her total score was 2200.  Meagan has applied to The University of Florida and Florida State, as well as some of the country’s top schools like NYU and Columbia.  Meagan is undecided as to what she will study upon graduation, but she does hope to be able to continue to do gymnastics at the club level when she goes to college.  
The Park Avenue Staff and coaches are very proud of Meagan and her achievements and wish her the best of luck as she prepares for this season and the future.


October W.O.W: 
Heather Peña - Student Government President!
Heather Pena is our October W.O.W. award winner.  Heather has been a team member at Park Avenue for the past 11 years.  She is currently in her second year as a level 10 gymnast.  Heather is an extremely hard working gymnast, who always gives it her all.  She was a level 9 East National Competitor and a Regional beam and floor champion. 
What makes Heather’s successes so impressive is Heather’s schedule outside of gym.Heather has been very active in her student government at Flanagan High School for the past 3 years.  This year is Heather’s senior year at Flanagan and she holds the prestigious position of Student Government President.  Heather’s duties include overseeing all activities and events that occur within Flanagan High School.  The Student Government plans several events a year that contribute to community service, civic engagement, school spirit and many more.  It is this contribution to her school and society that make Heather the October “W.O.W” award recipient.
Heather has applied to Central Florida University, University of Alabama, and University of Georgia and plans to study Sports Medicine, as well as continue with gymnastics.
The coaches and staff of Park Avenue would like to congratulate Heather on her achievements, both in and out of the gym, and wish her the best of luck as she prepares for this season and her future.


November W.O.W.
Cayla Reis - Humanitarian!
Cayla Reis is our November award winner.  Cayla has been a gymnast at Park Avenue for the past7 years.  She is currently training to compete as a level 8 gymnast.   Cayla is a very hard working and determined young lady with a heart of gold.  Last season Cayla injured her elbow which ended up being a 4 month recovery.  Through the whole process Cayla continued to train what she could, had a positive attitude and was an inspiration to her teammates.

It is this positive attitude coupled with her desire to help others that has won her the W.O.W. award.  Cayla attends Calvary Christian Academy and has been on the Principal’s Honor Roll every year.  She is very involved in her school and church and participates in several charitable activities.  Cayla has volunteered with a non-profit organization called The List Kids for the past 3 years.  She assembles care packages and writes notes to families that are being resettled into the US.  These families have assisted the US government in war efforts in Iraq but are now being persecuted in their countries.  Often, the first thing these families receive when they come to this country is one of the packages and notes that Cayla has put together.  This January Cayla will be going on a mission trip with her school for a week in the Bahamas.  While there she will be working to build new homes at an orphanage and visiting with children who have lost their parents to AIDS.

The coaches and staff of Park Avenue would like to congratulate Cayla for her achievements, thank her for her inspiration, and wish her a very successful season.


In addition to posting the W.O.W. awards, our BLOG will be your one-click spot for meet results and other Park Avenue athlete recognitions! Be sure to pass the link to our BLOG along to friends and family members so they can see just how bright our athletes are shining, both on the podium and in their community!

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