Steelers Great Hines Ward To Honor Plum Athlete

PLUM, PA - Hines Ward, one of the best receivers in Steelers history, will present 31 different high school athletes and two coaches with the eighth annual Senator John Heinz and Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum's Positive High School Athlete Awards. More than $16,000 in scholarships will be awarded to the winners at the awards ceremony on June 17.

Plum cheerleader Isabella Stoll will receive one of the awards.

In addition to the individual awards, North Allegheny High School will be honored as the most positive high school in recognition of how the school has supported the Positive Athlete Pittsburgh program over the years and for the large number of quality nominations the school provided this year.

Nearly 1,000 nominations from coaches, principals, athletic directors, teachers, and parents were submitted by a total of 150 Western Pennsylvania high schools. In addition to excellence on the field, each nominated athlete was required to show characteristics such as an optimistic attitude, teammate encouragement, servant leadership, heart for others, ability to admit imperfections, giving 100 percent all the time, and realizing that the team is more important than the individual.

“I circle this date on my calendar every year because I get a chance to meet kids who inspire me to be a better person,” Ward said in a statement. “These kids are approaching life the right way with a positive attitude. They are involved in charitable causes, have already learned the meaning of giving back at an early age, and many have overcome difficult circumstances and remained positive.”

The award winners from the following schools are:

• Bentworth: Levi Jordan, football.

• Canon-McMillan: Andrew Engel, football.

• Thomas Jefferson: Julie Fiedor, girls volleyball.

• North Allegheny: Nick Bridges, boys volleyball.

• Beaver Falls: Elizabeth Ohorodnyk, softball.

• Smithport Area: Darion Gregory, boys cross country.

• Butler: Elizabeth Simms, girls cross country.

• Plum: Isabella Stoll, cheerleading.

• Clairton: Leonard Robinson III, boys basketball.

• Central Valley: Kaitlyn Lyons, girls basketball.

• North Catholic: Matthew Ferraro, wrestling.

• Fox Chapel: Brent Brewster, boys swimming.

• Winchester Thurston: Aria Eppinger, girls swimming.

• Hampton: Hannah Schepner, gymnastics.

• Pine-Richland: Connor Anderson, boys soccer.

• Trinity: Julia Chakos, girls soccer.

• Mt. Lebanon: Daniel Kovarian, boys lacrosse.

• South Fayette; Samantha Louis, girls lacrosse.

• Blackhawk: Khalil Fraziers, boys tennis.

• Norwin: Ashley Pesarsick, girls tennis.

• Mars: Hunter Boyd, boys track.

• Rochester: Mia Anthony, girls track.

• Laurel Highlands: Gregory Hensh, boys golf.

• Seneca Valley: Lexi Tofanelli, girls golf.

• Mount Pleasant: Dominic Giallonardo, baseball.

• Ellis School: Alana Lateef, field hockey.

• Hempfield Area: Bailey Julian, ice hockey.

• Valley: Gregory Guzzo, boys multi-sport.

• Kiski Area: Kierra Shreffler, girls multi-sport.

• Upper St. Clair: Kyle Pollock, rowing.

• Union: Madalyn Gorgacz, dance.

• Nazareth Prep: Darryl Wiley, boys coach.

• Brownsville: Jane Block, girls coach.