Role model. Youth ambassador for United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation.
World-class swimmer.  Swimmer on U.S. Paralympic team.
Determined academic standout.  Overcome challenges for straight A's.

Meet Joe Wise.

A senior at a high school in California, Joe embodies the all-around high school student through his outstanding achievements in community service, athletics, and academics, and the Discus Awards is proud to recognize Joe for his success in and outside the classroom.

Joe is the winner of the December 2010 Discus Awards Scholarship, a scholarship for high school students presented to one select Discus Award winner every month of the academic year. From among thousands of Discus Award winners and accomplishments in 10 attribute categories, a panel of judges has chosen Joe as the recipient of the $2,000 college scholarship.

The Discus Awards, a high school recognition and scholarship program honoring students who excel in and out of the classroom, looks beyond grades, test scores, and win-loss records and recognizes students for their multi-dimensional talents and passions.

Joe is dedicated to becoming a spokesman for his disease, while pursuing his passions in athletics and overcoming obstacles to achieve in academics, and the Discus Awards is proud to shine the spotlight on him.

		Community Service
		“I have spent the last 1.5 years lobbying for the passage of HR 3502 and it's companion Bill S2858 to create a Director of Mitochondrial Research at the NIH. I have met several Congressmen and Senators to ask them to co-sponsor this bill. I also worked with California Senator Joe Smitian to pass SJR 23, a resolution to tell President Obama and his adminstration to pass Hr. 3502 and S2858.” A victim of the disease himself, Joe has fought back by becoming the Youth Ambassador for the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation. In addition to fighting for support for this dangerous disease on the hill, Joe has also taken his cause to the classroom. In January 2010, Joe held an assembly where he encouraged his fellow students to write letters to their Congressional Representatives to support Hr. 3502.

		Athletics
		“I swim because it keeps me alive. I have been supported by a swim coach who believes in dreams and knows of my goal to swim in London...My goal is now to swim in college and at the 2010 Paralympics in London.” Despite Joe's illness, which results in the weakening of his muscles, Joe is a competitive swimmer and a Member of the 2008 U.S. Paralympics Team that competed in Beijing. He is also on the National Team for the U.S. Paralympics and a member of The Santa Clara Swim Club. Joe has overcome tremendous challenges just to participate in his swimming, and has ended up working his way to becoming one of the best swimmers for his age group in the country.

		Academics
		“As a student who has a life threatening illness, I have worked hard to stay in school. Most children with my disease are home schooled. I have chosen to go to school every day where I can have a somewhat normal life.” Joe's personal strength and commitment to his education are inspirational. After missing six weeks of school in his junior year due to his mitochondrial cells failing, he has fought an uphill battle all the way to a 4.0 GPA in his senior year. Even after losing the use of his muscles in his hands, Joe has teachers who will scribe for him as he remains determined to learn and dedicated to accomplishing his goals.

Learn more about Joe Wise and other Discus Awards winners