Discus Awards

 Today's Winner Picture of the Day features Brian Baker wake-surfing.  Brian writes, "In the Summer of 2008 I found a new sport called Wake-surfing. In this sport you surf a wave that is created by the hull of the boat. I fell in love with the sport and was on the lake nearly every warm day. In 2010, after only two full years of riding I decided to enter a contest."  Check out Brian's winner profile to see how he did!

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

Due to popular demand and an abnormally high volume of funky dance moves, we're hosting another Music Monday.  Today we've got some solo artists, belting their emotions out in a most melodic way.  Watch these Discus Award winners capture the spotlight and don't be afraid to sing along!

Our first jam is a song by Grace Jessop who goes by the stage name Gracie J, called "Better Tomorrow".  Rock out to this tasty tune and you'll feel like you can take on anything.

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

Sally Jimenez, a senior in high school from Arizona and Discus Award winner, is the artist behind today's Winner Picture of the Day. However, just as amazing as the artwork is the story behind the artist. Knowing quite well that my storytelling abilities would not do her story justice, please read her essay for her Other Achievements attribute on her winner profile, a portion of which I've pasted below:

"I spent my childhood growing up homeless living on the streets without my mother or father. I managed to walk to school everyday and stay out of trouble. I stayed in a drug-infested environment and managed to not conform and fall into drug-addiction. I stayed focused on school because that's what has always been important to me. I will be the first female in my family to go to high school and college. I am also the only one in my family to never do drugs or go to jail or prison."

If your jaw isn't touching the floor yet, check out Sally's pencil drawn portrait, which is today's Winner Picture of the Day!

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

Music is unique in that it's one of the few things that everyone likes and connects to on an emotional level.  People like different genres of music, but I can't say that I've ever met someone who just flat out didn't like any type of music at all.  So, to celebrate the beauty and happiness music brings to our lives, I've compiled a collection of music videos submitted by talented Discus Award winners.  This is the first Music Monday on the Discus Awards Blog.  It could be the last, or it could be the first of many.  You'll just have to keep coming back to find out...

For your listening pleasure today, we're spanning the spectrum of musical styles and instruments. To get you started, let's stay contemporary with some R&B/hip-hop courtesy of Discus Award winner Tia Owens. Here is her song "Sweet Life" featuring Crooked I.

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

Nominate yourself or someone you know for a Discus Award!

The Discus Competition is kicking off the dress shoes, grabbing a towel, and putting on some SPF 50. Take a trip around the world, courtesy of some shutterbugs in the Discus Awards community. They've snapped gorgeous photos at beaches everywhere from Long Island to Spain, San Diego to Honduras, Newport to Vietnam, and beyond! Vote for your favorite beach picture by Friday, May 20th at 11:59a.m. ET and you can help one of these camera stars win a Discus Awards mesh bag!

Which beach photo is your favorite?
	Caitlin Maples - "Long Island Sound"		Phuong Ta - "Phan Thiet Beach, Vietnam"
	Delara Fadavi - "Crystal Cove, Newport Beach"		Kevin Yin - "Coronado Island, San Diego"
	Hannah Lee - "Love"		Samantha Litter - "Long Island Lighthouse"
	Jane Roberts - "Barcelona, Spain"		Preeya Bhakta - "Shining Rays"
	Jason van der Merwe - "Honduras"		Jessica Hale - "Wrightsville Beach, NC"

Filed under: Discus Dan • All-Around High School Students • Discus Awards Competition