Discus Awards

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 AquaAid Blog or e-mail them at aquaaid.international@gmail.com.

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.

...continue reading

Filed under: Sophie Hollingsworth • All-Around High School Students • Meet the Discus Winner

Callie Lack, 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.

Filed under: Discus Dan • All-Around High School Students • Discus Award Winner Picture of the Day

Eli Greenhoe, 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"

...continue reading

Filed under: Discus Dan • All-Around High School Students • Discus Award Winner Video of the Day