Discus Awards Blog

Discus Awards Blog Show us how you're different, and we'll do the same. Other high school awards see one side of you, but the Discus Awards looks at the whole. Discus college scholarships will help fuel your passions. http://www.discusawards.com/blog/ en Copyright © 2009-2012 Discus Awards · All Rights Reserved info@discusawards.com Discus Awards Blog - Video Picture of the Day - Mitchell Herrmann Today, we celebrate the Don Drapers of the world, or the Leo Burnetts of the real world (no, not the MTV reality show), with an advertising campaign that should have been, created by Discus Award winner <a href="http://www.discusawards.com/winner.php?id=58374">Mitchell Herrmann</a> for his television production class.  Clearly evidenced by this fantastically-done spot, Mitchell has a career in advertising in his future if he chooses to pursue it.  Watch Mitchell's 50-second film noir Dr. Pepper commercial below.  Oh, and Dr. Pepper, on Mitchell's behalf, we say "you're welcome". <iframe width="420" height="315" frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VaQHkJ_QtnU" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><hr/>Source: <a href="http://www.discusawards.com/blog/winner-video-of-the-day-mitchell-herrmann/118">Discus Awards Blog - Video Picture of the Day - Mitchell Herrmann</a> at <a href="http://www.discusawards.com">Discus Awards</a>. http://www.discusawards.com/blog/winner-video-of-the-day-mitchell-herrmann/118 Sun, 06 May 2012 17:00:00 EDT http://www.discusawards.com/blog/winner-video-of-the-day-mitchell-herrmann/118 Discus Awards Blog - Winner Picture of the Day - Emily Smith Discus Award winner <a href="http://www.discusawards.com/winner.php?id=62968">Emily Smith</a> excels in academics, athletics, and community service, but it is her artistic ability that is the focus of today's <a href="http://www.discusawards.com/blog/category/discus-award-winner-picture-of-the-day/19">Winner Picture of the Day</a>. As the seasons change, we leave it to the talent of Ms. Smith to capture that transformation. She brings us up-close-and-personal with nature's beauty by combining her photography skills and digital editing savvy to capture morning dew on leaves in this black and white gem. <img width="400" height="300" align="middle" alt="" src="/pics/userpics/Image/Blog/EmilySmith_Leaf_May2012.jpg" /><hr/>Source: <a href="http://www.discusawards.com/blog/winner-picture-of-the-day-emily-smith/117">Discus Awards Blog - Winner Picture of the Day - Emily Smith</a> at <a href="http://www.discusawards.com">Discus Awards</a>. http://www.discusawards.com/blog/winner-picture-of-the-day-emily-smith/117 Fri, 04 May 2012 16:00:00 EDT http://www.discusawards.com/blog/winner-picture-of-the-day-emily-smith/117 Discus Awards Blog - Meet the Winner - Melinda Marchiano To read more about Melinda's experience buy her book, "<a href="http://melindamarchiano.com/" target="_blank">Grace: A Child's Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery</a>". Proceeds of the book are donated to childhood cancer research and childhood cancer organizations. My life-changing journey began in the fall of 2007, when I became mysteriously ill. After months of exhaustive searching, repeated misdiagnoses, and desperate testing, I at last was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma on December 18th, 2007. Strangely enough, it came as a relief…we then knew the enemy, and how to proceed in declaring war. However, the overwhelming weight was only temporarily lifted. I began my first of four rounds of intense chemotherapy shortly thereafter, followed by three weeks of daily radiation. Throughout the six months that my treatment spanned, the love of my family, the comfort of my God, and the healing of my passion, dance, kept me anchored in the real world while afloat in that of cancer. Finishing treatment on May 8th 2008, I soon faced a plethora of life-threatening side effects. Facing and overcoming an eating disorder, I went on to discover the value of helping others through my story. <a href='http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-melinda-marchiano/116'>...continue reading</a><hr/>Source: <a href="http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-melinda-marchiano/116">Discus Awards Blog - Meet the Winner - Melinda Marchiano</a> at <a href="http://www.discusawards.com">Discus Awards</a>. http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-melinda-marchiano/116 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EDT http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-melinda-marchiano/116 Discus Awards Blog - Meet the Winner - Kelly Eastman If you want to read more about Kelly's experience, read her journal on her <a target="_blank" href="www.caringbridge.org/visit/kellyeastman">CaringBridge</a>. Hello everyone! I hope that your holidays have brought you peace, love, and happiness! When I was diagnosed on June 24th, 2008 with Severe Aplastic Anemia my life completely changed. I was going to be a freshman in high school, one of the most exciting times of a person’s life! Severe Aplastic Anemia is a very rare blood-related disorder which is NOT cancer. My body still produced healthy cells, but the disease didn’t make enough cells in my bone marrow so I eventually would have run out and died. Luckily, I had a ton of family and friends supporting me every step of the way, so I didn’t have to go through it alone. It was heartbreaking news to everyone around me and my family and I were devastated. I couldn’t stop talking about finally going to the same school as my sister! My school was very cooperative and sent homebound tutors; but I, with the help of my mom, taught myself all of my classes. I didn’t feel sorry for myself and flaunt this hardship around for pity because I am an extremely strong individual. I realized that God only gives the hardships to people he knows can handle and push through them. Boy did he choose an excellent person! I not only have been in remission for three years, my body responded to all the medicine without any major side effects! <a href='http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-kelly-eastman/115'>...continue reading</a><hr/>Source: <a href="http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-kelly-eastman/115">Discus Awards Blog - Meet the Winner - Kelly Eastman</a> at <a href="http://www.discusawards.com">Discus Awards</a>. http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-kelly-eastman/115 Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EDT http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-kelly-eastman/115 Discus Awards Blog - Meet the Winner - Bailey Bergmann It started the summer I tired of writing dog stories. I had decided that being published in a children’s fiction magazine was not going to be the extent of my writing career. So I snapped up the chance to write a few columns for the local newspaper—never mind that I was thirteen—and discovered I had much more to say than I thought. Looking back on my fast-ending high school years, I am shocked at what I became: Campaigner. Teacher’s aide. Writer. Tutor. Pianist. PR manager. Speaker. Director. It’s all the more shocking because of what I am—a shy-ish homeschooler who never stepped foot in a classroom and preferred changing the world from a distance. <img width="150" vspace="5" hspace="5" height="100" align="right" src="/pics/userpics/Image/Blog/Bailey_Bergmann-Theater.jpg" alt="" />Being homeschooled since forever, I took it hard when I hit the teen years and learned that every other kid my age was in band, drama and French club. Everything the local homeschool group tried seemed to collapse a few weeks later. I resigned myself to a life of library haunting. But then the strangest thing happened—my passionate side refused to go along with that. Fueled by the few strangers who hunted down my phone number and thanked me for writing those newspaper columns, I decided to serve instead of be served, to go hunting for opportunity instead of waiting for it. It wouldn’t come pre-packaged in clubs or classes—that I knew. I just never expected my story to end like it did. <a href='http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-bailey-bergmann/114'>...continue reading</a><hr/>Source: <a href="http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-bailey-bergmann/114">Discus Awards Blog - Meet the Winner - Bailey Bergmann</a> at <a href="http://www.discusawards.com">Discus Awards</a>. http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-bailey-bergmann/114 Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EDT http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-bailey-bergmann/114 Discus Awards Blog - Meet the Winner - Colby Lufkin At the beginning of my freshman year I formed a Youth Advisory committee with some of my peers to help promote the GAL (Guardian ad Litem) program on the Treasure Coast. My goal started out and remains; to not only help the children in this system but to also bring awareness about them and the GAL program to our community. Thousands of children in our community through no fault of their own end up in this situation each year. The court system appoints a Guardian ad Litem to represent each child going through dependency court. These trained volunteers put these children's best interest and safety first. I think the GAL program really makes a difference in the lives of these children that otherwise would have no one to speak for them. Without them what would then happen to those children? Who would these children's voices? Who would help them? I'm not sure that most people know just how many abused and neglected children we have in our own communities. I know how surprised and eye opening I found it, to discover how many children go without things my friends and I and take for granted. Not just basic necessities, but the feelings of safety, love, and having people care, I remain committed to this cause and helping these children. A word to the wise; when forming a committee be careful about who you allow to join. Most high school students need a certain number of community service hours and I have learned there not all will care as much as you do about the cause you are working for. It's like running a business and delegating certain responsibilities need to go to your most responsible and hard working members. Otherwise, you constantly have to follow through and pick up the slack. You can't make other teenagers care as much as you! But, you can lead by example and after a couple of events you'll know who you can count on. Once you've chosen a cause you care about and worked out the details with the non-profit organization to create a youth committee you'll want to identify a need or initiate an event to raise awareness and or funds for your cause. <a href='http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-colby-lufkin/113'>...continue reading</a><hr/>Source: <a href="http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-colby-lufkin/113">Discus Awards Blog - Meet the Winner - Colby Lufkin</a> at <a href="http://www.discusawards.com">Discus Awards</a>. http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-colby-lufkin/113 Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-colby-lufkin/113 Discus Awards Blog - Discus Updates - Network Scholarships - Scholarship Application Changes You may have already noticed a few changes to the Discus Awards website and recognition and scholarship program.  If you haven't, then this post will help you understand just how hard we've been working to provide outstanding students with high school recognition and college scholarship opportunities! The first major change we've made to our program that I'd like to share with you today is the addition of <a href="/network-scholarships.php">network scholarships</a>.  These scholarships, administered by our partner SAGE Scholars, represent a guaranteed minimum scholarship at any school within the <a href="/network-scholarships.php#Colleges">Discus Network</a>.  Unfortunately, for you high school seniors, students are only eligible to receive network scholarships through their junior year.  However, we still have our <a href="/open-scholarships">open scholarships</a> for you seniors! <a href='http://www.discusawards.com/blog/network-scholarships-and-other-updates/112'>...continue reading</a><hr/>Source: <a href="http://www.discusawards.com/blog/network-scholarships-and-other-updates/112">Discus Awards Blog - Discus Updates - Network Scholarships - Scholarship Application Changes</a> at <a href="http://www.discusawards.com">Discus Awards</a>. http://www.discusawards.com/blog/network-scholarships-and-other-updates/112 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST http://www.discusawards.com/blog/network-scholarships-and-other-updates/112 Discus Awards Blog - Meet the Winner - Jake Roark In the summer of 2009 I started a business called The Rig. This is a mobile car wash business. Going into my junior year, I knew I needed a job, but I did not want to go the traditional route. Through my Father, I learned of a spray rig that was for sale for two thousand dollars, quite a hefty price for a high school student, but my Dad said he would back me so we purchased the rig. It started out small, but soon I got my own business cards and got regular clients. I paid my Dad back in full before the summer was even close to being over and made a great profit. It was definitely hard sometimes scheduling clients around gym sessions and football camps, but I had to weigh my priorities and schedule accordingly. During the school year, I washed a little bit but not much, because school comes before making money. Being your own boss makes it hard to work sometimes knowing there are no consequences for not working; I learned to self-motivate. I believe learning how to effectively run a profitable business was a great experience for me and has really taught me how start a business in the future. My future goal is to own an elite athletic training facility and what I learned operating The Rig will be invaluable to me when I begin that endeavor. It is a little scary not knowing if you’re going to be able to make the payments; however, with risk comes reward.<hr/>Source: <a href="http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-jake-roark/111">Discus Awards Blog - Meet the Winner - Jake Roark</a> at <a href="http://www.discusawards.com">Discus Awards</a>. http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-jake-roark/111 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-jake-roark/111 Discus Awards Blog - Meet the Winner - Christopher Yao My passion for service and helping others began when I was diagnosed with an under-jaw bite when I was starting middle school. Doctors projected that I would have major problems speaking and eating if it was not corrected by a costly surgery. Thankfully, I eventually had my under-jaw bite fixed. But for all this time, I thought about all the kids who had the same difficulties as I did and those who could not even afford treatment. Soon I decided to join in the <a target="_blank" href="http://smiletrain.org/">Smile Train</a>‘s mission to help raise funds for <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kidschangeamerica.org/cleft-lip-and-palate.html">life-changing cleft-lip surgery</a> for underprivileged children around the world. Funding 60 cleft surgeries and treatments for children around the world, we were able to provide each surgery for less than $250! After countless fundraisers and events, I had seen the power of youth to change the world. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kidschangeamerica.org">Kids Change the World</a> was founded in 2007 to improve the lives of children by mobilizing the caring power of youth to advance the common good. Since then, we have offered hundreds of youth-led ideas, groups, and charitable initiatives with <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kidschangeamerica.org/action-tools.html">action tools</a>: website domains, mentors, and grassroots services. You, too, can even use our free action tools for your own community initiatives by getting started <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kidschangeamerica.org/grassroots-tools.html">here</a>. <a href='http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-christopher-yao/110'>...continue reading</a><hr/>Source: <a href="http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-christopher-yao/110">Discus Awards Blog - Meet the Winner - Christopher Yao</a> at <a href="http://www.discusawards.com">Discus Awards</a>. http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-christopher-yao/110 Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-christopher-yao/110 Discus Awards Blog - Meet the Winner - Shruthi Prabhu The basis of my idea for a charity program started when one day, my mom was talking to me and said that my grandmother had glaucoma, an incurable disease that gradually closes in on the vision and slowly drives the victim to a devastating state of blindness. That very summer, I got glasses, due to slight power in both of my eyes. I had always had 20/20 vision, but suddenly, my eyesight deteriorated, and I became the first one in my family (at the age of 14) to get glasses. Afterwards, I thought about my aunt on my dad's side. When she was about seven or eight years old, she lost one of her eyes to an infection. My grandparents had neither the money nor the resources to go to an optometrist to save their daughter's eye. She had to have an operation, and her entire eye was taken out. Now, she has power in her remaining eye. Then it came to me. What about all those other adults and children in poverty-stricken areas of the world that do not have the financial support to get a needed eye operation? I suddenly felt the strong need to do something about it. The worst thing I could do was nothing. In June of 2011, I got started. First, I put up a website to inform the public about the program which I named <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kindact.webs.com">“Small Acts of Kindness"</a>. Next, I found my organization, which was <a target="_blank" href="http://www.omtrust.org">Sankara Nethralaya</a>, a non-profit organization situated in the USA. They collect money from any patrons and send it on over to Chennai, India, to supply poverty-stricken people with free eye operations. Then, I put together a group of 72 children, hence "Small" Acts of Kindness, to show India that people around the world have not forgotten their culture and that WE CARE. <a href='http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-shruthi-prabhu/107'>...continue reading</a><hr/>Source: <a href="http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-shruthi-prabhu/107">Discus Awards Blog - Meet the Winner - Shruthi Prabhu</a> at <a href="http://www.discusawards.com">Discus Awards</a>. http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-shruthi-prabhu/107 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-shruthi-prabhu/107 Discus Awards Blog - Winner Videos of the Day - Sherman Leung Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Bach, Gershwin, Leung.  These are the titans of the classical piano, but not all are created equal.  <a href="http://www.discusawards.com/winner.php?id=57320">Sherman Leung</a> is the only name on that list that has been recognized by the Discus Awards for all-around excellence, in his case, for achievements in technology, arts, and faith. In today's <a href="http://www.discusawards.com/blog/category/discus-award-winner-video-of-the-day/18">Winner Videos of the Day</a>, Sherman pays homage to two of his classical peers: Beethoven and Chopin.  The first video, Sherman's performance of Beethoven's Sonata in C#, begins 24 seconds in.  Warning: Your face may be melted by Mr. Leung's skills.  Then, don't miss Sherman's encore of Chopin's Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat Minor.  Enjoy! <iframe width="400" height="250" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XKFkYLlztTc"></iframe> <a href='http://www.discusawards.com/blog/winner-video-of-the-day-sherman-leung/109'>...continue reading</a><hr/>Source: <a href="http://www.discusawards.com/blog/winner-video-of-the-day-sherman-leung/109">Discus Awards Blog - Winner Videos of the Day - Sherman Leung</a> at <a href="http://www.discusawards.com">Discus Awards</a>. http://www.discusawards.com/blog/winner-video-of-the-day-sherman-leung/109 Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST http://www.discusawards.com/blog/winner-video-of-the-day-sherman-leung/109 Discus Awards Blog - Winner Picture of the Day - Stephany Kim Ralph Macchio, move over, there's a new Karate Kid in town.  Her name is <a href="http://www.discusawards.com/winner.php?id=57559">Stephany Kim</a>, she's a Discus Award winner for her achievements in academics, work, and athletics, and she's a one-girl wrecking machine.  In the words of 1970s funk singer Carl Douglas, Stephany's kicks are "fast as lightning".  Lucky for us, someone who had a camera with a fast shutter was able to snap a picture of Stephany in action.  This picture of Stephany's high-flying athleticism was taken at the 6th Worlds Taekwondo Championships in Vladivostok, Russia, where she placed 8th among 40 countries. <img width="400" height="266" align="middle" src="/pics/userpics/Image/Blog/Stephany_Kim-Karate.jpg" alt="" /><hr/>Source: <a href="http://www.discusawards.com/blog/winner-picture-of-the-day-stephany-kim/108">Discus Awards Blog - Winner Picture of the Day - Stephany Kim</a> at <a href="http://www.discusawards.com">Discus Awards</a>. http://www.discusawards.com/blog/winner-picture-of-the-day-stephany-kim/108 Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST http://www.discusawards.com/blog/winner-picture-of-the-day-stephany-kim/108 Discus Awards Blog - Meet the Winner - Sophie Hollingsworth Editor's Note: Sophie Hollingsworth is a 2011-2012 Discus Award winner from Florida who has founded a non-profit organization, AquaAid International, Inc., that aims to provide safe drinking water for communities in the developing world.  Sophie was kind enough to share her experience through this guest blog post.  For more information on AquaAid International and how you can get involved, please visit the <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://aquaaid-international.blogspot.com">AquaAid Blog</a> or e-mail them at aquaaid.international@gmail.com. <img width="150" height="100" align="right" src="/pics/userpics/Image/Blog/Sophie_Hollingsworth-On_Boat.jpg" alt="" />It started with an invitation, a debutante invitation to be specific. I was honored to be considered by an assemblage of notable women; however I was drawn to an alternative more in keeping with my spirits: to be a debutante or to donate the funds required for debutante participation to an organization serving humanity. For me the decision was clear. In the course of researching organizations to donate to, the idea of starting my own nonprofit was born. I decided to provide safe drinking water for communities in developing nations without access to potable water; I established AquaAid International, Inc. to do just that. I had always known about the global water crisis; however, not until I spent time in Bahía Honda, Panamá did I truly understand the importance of the liquid so many of us take for granted. <a href='http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-sophie-hollingsworth/106'>...continue reading</a><hr/>Source: <a href="http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-sophie-hollingsworth/106">Discus Awards Blog - Meet the Winner - Sophie Hollingsworth</a> at <a href="http://www.discusawards.com">Discus Awards</a>. http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-sophie-hollingsworth/106 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST http://www.discusawards.com/blog/meet-the-winner-sophie-hollingsworth/106 Discus Awards Blog - Winner Picture of the Day - Callie Lack <a href="http://www.discusawards.com/winner.php?id=51756">Callie Lack</a>, a high school senior and Discus Award winner from Missouri for her accomplishments in arts, athletics, and other achievements, has spent the majority of her life creating.  Whether it was waking up on Saturday morning as a kid to draw or helping set up the annual art show at her school with her peers in the Art Honor Society, Callie has always been capitalizing on the sharp, right side of her brain.  We see that talent come to life in this skech(ers) she did of her favorite Converse sneaker.  Moving past my embarassingly poor play on words, here is Callie masterpiece. <img width="400" height="246" align="middle" alt="" src="/pics/userpics/Image/Blog/Callie_Lack-Converse-Drawing.jpg" /><hr/>Source: <a href="http://www.discusawards.com/blog/winner-picture-of-the-day-callie-lack/105">Discus Awards Blog - Winner Picture of the Day - Callie Lack</a> at <a href="http://www.discusawards.com">Discus Awards</a>. http://www.discusawards.com/blog/winner-picture-of-the-day-callie-lack/105 Sat, 26 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST http://www.discusawards.com/blog/winner-picture-of-the-day-callie-lack/105 Discus Awards Blog - Winner Videos of the Day - Eli Greenhoe <a href="http://www.discusawards.com/winner.php?id=55741">Eli Greenhoe</a>, a Discus Award winner for his excellence in arts, community service, and academics, is the front man of the band Men Who Shave, a talented musical trio comprised of a guitarist (Eli), violinist, and bassist.  We have a special treat for our readers today, a special behind-the-scenes look into the music of Men Who Shave.  Performing two of their songs for a captivated audience at The World Fellowship Center, "Snowbound" and "Heart In A Cage", we give you the musical stylings of Eli and his bandmates. "Snowbound" <iframe width="400" height="250" frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oCzaCDPdm-8" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <a href='http://www.discusawards.com/blog/winner-video-of-the-day-eli-greenhoe/104'>...continue reading</a><hr/>Source: <a href="http://www.discusawards.com/blog/winner-video-of-the-day-eli-greenhoe/104">Discus Awards Blog - Winner Videos of the Day - Eli Greenhoe</a> at <a href="http://www.discusawards.com">Discus Awards</a>. http://www.discusawards.com/blog/winner-video-of-the-day-eli-greenhoe/104 Sun, 20 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.discusawards.com/blog/winner-video-of-the-day-eli-greenhoe/104