Everyday Heroes Finalists recognizing the best in students, administrators, officials and coaches

 

Cox Communications and the Arizona Interscholastic Association have selected nine outstanding Arizona educators as finalists for the Administrator, Official and Coach of the Year to be awarded at the seventh annual Everyday Heroes gala on May 23. Each finalist has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to academic excellence both on and off the field.

One winner from each category will be announced at the black-tie event at the Orpheum Theater in Phoenix on May 23. The entire show will be broadcast statewide live on Cox 7 at 7 p.m.

Cox Communications and the Arizona Interscholastic Association have selected six outstanding Arizona high school students as finalists for the coveted Student of the Year to be awarded at the 2009 Everyday Heroes gala May 23. One male and one female winner will be announced at the black-tie event at the Orpheum Theater in Phoenix on May 23. The entire show will be broadcast statewide live on Cox 7 at 7 p.m.

The student of the year award recognizes the student achievers who most exemplify sportsmanship and a healthy lifestyle. This is the seventh annual Everyday Heroes event. Since its inception in 2003, Everyday Heroes has honored more than 350 award finalists and recipients and given out more than $225,000 in cash and prizes.                                                                              COX7-AZ Everyday Heroes Homepage

Six Arizona high school students selected as "Everyday Heroes" student of the year finalists

Xavier Hardy

Age: 17

Activities: Basketball, Baseball, Letterman’s Club Treasurer, Student Government Treasurer all four years of high school, National Honor Society, National High School Honor Society of Scholars, National Collegiate Athletic Association

Community Service: Chinle Windtalkers baseball player/coach, Many Farms teachers’ housing landscaper and caretaker, Office of Youth Development math tutor

Hometown: Many Farms, AZ

School: Many Farms High School

Nominated by: David Lepkojus,

Head Teacher/Assistant Principal

Additional Information: Baseball 2A All-Region, Best Defensive Player Baseball, Arizona Republic 2A Baseball Honorable Mention, Outstanding Math, Physical Education and World Geography, Navajo Times First Team-Baseball, perfect attendance 2008

JamesBond Robinson

Age: 18

Activities: Varsity football captain, track regional champion, varsity basketball, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, student government graduation speaker/Homecoming Bon Fire Chair, Site Council Representative

Community Service: Chair United Blood Services blood drives, football team peer tutor, basketball summer camp counselor, Life Care Center volunteer

Hometown: Phoenix, AZ

School: Paradise Valley High School

Nominated by: Donnie Yantis, Head Football Coach

Additional Information: Sen. John McCain’s Principal Nominee to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY, Sen. Jon Kyl’s nominee for appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, perfect attendance all four years of high school, Ch. 12 Student Spotlight as football scholar/athlete, Cox7 Pursuing Victory with Honor scholar athlete, PVUSD Superintendent’s Honor Roll, finalist-City of Phoenix outstanding young man of the year

Fletcher Hunt

Age: 18

Activities: Varsity football Team MVP/Best Receiver Team Award, varsity wrestling, National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes Worship Leader, Concert Choir, Lead in spring and summer Ironwood High School musical

Community Service: As part of Chamber Singers-sang in many retirement homes, coached football for NYS, painted homes for people who needed assistance, cleaned up neighborhoods for City of Glendale, read to students as part of Desert Valley Special Needs

Hometown: Glendale, AZ

School: Ironwood High School

Nominated by: Sean Flanigan, Head Wrestling Coach and Gifted Department Chair

Additional Information: International Baccalaureate Diploma candidate, Academic All Star, Outstanding Choir Performer, Football 1st Team All Academic, has received a scholarship to Colorado School of Mines

Jamie Kottcamp

Age: 17

Activities: Girls Varsity Basketball Captain/Forward/Center, Varsity Softball Captain/1st Baseman, Varsity Volleyball Captain/Middle Blocker, National Honor Society Member

Community Service: 1,000+ hours of community service cleaning highways, participating in food/toy drives, helping the elderly at church, providing guidance to younger members at church, painting trash cans at the park, organizing a youth basketball clinic, assisting with the NBA Skills Challenge, volunteering at London’s Run benefiting cancer research, scorekeeping for Little League All-Stars, volunteering for Special Olympics

Hometown: Queen Creek, AZ

School: Queen Creek High School

Nominated by: Brett Huston, Varsity Girls Basketball Coach

Additional Information: Recipient Young Women in Recognition Award, Principal’s list all four years of high school, Recipient Presidential Merit Scholarship to ASU

Kelly Ryan Murphy

Age: 18

Activities: Student Body President during senior, junior and sophomore years, Varsity Basketball Forward/Post, Varsity Volleyball Libero/Defensive Specialist, National Honor Society Vice President, VICA Medical Club President, Mayor’s Youth Advisory Commission Secretary, Project Respect Facilitator, Society of Female Scholars Member

Community Service: More than 600 hours volunteering at Del E. Webb Community Hospital, painting houses and working community events for the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Commission, organizing blood drives for United Blood Services, organizing food drives for the Westside Food Bank, coordinating a “Beanie Baby” drive through the National Honor Society benefitting Phoenix Children’s Hospital and acting as usher and babysitter at the church nursery

Hometown: Glendale, AZ

School: Mountain Ridge High School

Nominated by: Kimberly Heinz, Athletic Director

Additional Information: AP Scholar with Honors, Coca-Cola National Scholar, M&I Bank Skylights Scholar Athlete Grand Prize Winner, Rotary International Student Scholar of the Month, Cox7 After-the-Bell featured student, Samsung American Legion National Scholar, Recipient President’s Volunteer Service Award, Recipient MRHS Principal’s Leadership Award, American Legion Girls State Delegate and State Scholar

Alison Goulder

Age: 18

Activities: Founder of Operation Grateful, a project that sends “Beanie Babies” to soldiers overseas for distribution to orphaned and hospitalized Iraqi children, regular volunteer at Packages from Home, volunteer at Mayo Clinic, Policy Committee Co-Chair for the Arizona Governor’s Youth Commission drafting legislation regarding teen homelessness

Community Service: Founder of Operation Grateful, a project that sends “Beanie Babies” to soldiers overseas for distribution to orphaned and hospitalized Iraqi children, regular volunteer at Packages from Home, volunteer at Mayo Clinic, Policy Committee Co-Chair for the Arizona Governor’s Youth Commission drafting legislation regarding teen homelessness

Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ

School: Xavier College Preparatory

Nominated by: Sister Lynn Winsor, Vice Principal/Athletic Director

Additional Information: Coca-Cola Scholar Award Recipient, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at Rio Salado Community College, Xavier College Preparatory First Honors recipient, AIA Cox Communications After-the Bell Award recipient 2006

 

Administrator of the Year Finalists

Dr. Sheila Baize,

Tucson Unified School District

Baize has been the Director of interscholastic for TUSD for the past 22 years. Her responsibilities include oversight of the athletic and fine art programs for 10 high schools and 19 middle schools.

Additionally, Baize is an active member of the Southern Arizona Women’s Foundation and Arizona Interscholastic Association Equity Committee.

Mark Cisterna,

Gilbert Public Schools

Cisterna has been a coach and administrator for more than 30 years. He served as the Athletic Director for Apache Junction High School and Gilbert High School for 23 years before joining the Gilbert Public School District as the Director of Athletics in 2002.

Additionally, Cisterna serves as site director for the AZ State Baseball tournament.

John Pierce,

Paradise Valley Unified School District

Pierce has served as Athletic Director at Horizon High School for 20 years and has held positions as a teacher and counselor for the Paradise Valley Unified School District since 1974.

In addition, Pierce has served on the AIA Executive Board Legislative Council since the 1990s.
 

Official of the Year Finalists

James Edward Burgess,

Soccer Official

Burgess has been a soccer referee, instructor, assessor and Arizona Commissioner of Officials during his 29-year-career.

He has refereed over 2,000 matches including 75 professional matches and 15 International matches.

Mike Gillespie,

Football, Baseball, Volleyball and Soccer Official

Gillespie has officiated Football, Baseball, Soccer and Volleyball games for 12 years, seven of which have been with the Arizona Interscholastic Association.

He is currently the A6 Region Commissioner.

Daniel Reynolds,

Cross Country and Track and Field Official

Reynolds has spent 40 years officiating state and regional track and field and cross country meets.

He has served as the Director of TUSD Middle School Track and Field since 1999 and as Assistant Director of Interscholastic for 24 years.
 

Coach of the Year Finalists

Paul Baranowski,

St. Gregory College Preparatory School

Baranowski has served as the head boys basketball coach and athletic director at St. Gregory School since 1994.

He has more than 25 years experience coaching boys and girls varsity basketball, tennis, football and softball.

Linda Lou Lamb,

Benson High School

Lamb has been a coach and teacher at Benson High School for over 25 years.

She has coached varsity track and field, volleyball and basketball, and served as an athletic trainer and assistant athletic director.

David Vibber,

Corona Del Sol High School

Vibber has been the Head Varsity Wrestling Coach, Head Freshman Football Coach and Varsity boys and girls Track Coach at Corona del Sol High School for 30 years.

He also volunteers for numerous community organizations..