2022 AAASP ASPIRE Awards
The American Association of Adapted Sports Programs (AAASP) ASPIRE Awards (Adapted Sports Programs in Recreation and Education) honor individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions in contributing to the physical, social, and intellectual well-being of children and adolescents with physical disabilities and impairments through the power of athletics.
2022 ASPIRE AWARDS Event Details:
- Sunday, October 23, 2022 / 5:30–8:00 pm
NOTE: Family-style dinner will be served promptly at 5:30pm
Please plan to arrive early!
- Maggiano's Little Italy (Buckhead location)
3368 Peachtree Road, Atlanta GA 30326
NOTE: Event will be held upstairs (elevator available)
- $5 Valet Parking / Free parking is also available in back lot
Meet Our 2022 Guest Speaker
Karin Korb
2x Paralympian, 10x USA World Team member, and the first person with a disability to play at the US Open, will headline the 4th annual ASPIRE Awards for the American Association of Adapted Sports Programs (AAASP) on October 23, 2022.
Meet Our 2022 Emcee
Dennis Winslow
Dennis started in radio in the summer of 1964 after his senior year at Winter Park High School as the “Sunday guy” at Clermont’s WSLC-AM. While attending the University of Florida, he worked part-time at Gainesville’s WRUF-FM and WDVH-AM (doing PM drive at the latter as "Little" Bobby Dennis), and eventually made PD at WUWU.
AAASP ASPIRE Award winners are chosen through an application process. Nominees will be announced in August 2022.
This year's ASPIRE Awards banquet will be held Sunday, October 23, 2022 – at Maggiano's Little Italy in Buckhead (Atlanta). All nominees will be recognized and the winners will be announced during the awards banquet.
An ASPIRE award recognizes the significant contributions of individuals and organizations that have been central to the mission of making adapted sports programming available to children with physical disabilities. Through these programs, student athletes with physical disabilities across the state reap the physical, social, emotional and academic benefits of competitive athletics resulting in personal and social empowerment.
The ASPIRE award was established to recognize those who support and advocate on behalf of adapted sports. The award showcases those who stand as role models; individuals, companies and organizations that have taken a proactive and innovative path in support of competitive sports programs for student athletes with physical disabilities.
Congratulations to Our 2022 Nominees!
- Jeff Battles, Advocacy Award, Muscogee Lions
- Janice Brackett, Advocacy Award, Clayton County Schools
- Mike Emery, Advocacy Award, Gwinnett Heat
- Nicholas Griffin, Advocacy Award, Troup County Schools
- Senator Kim Jackson, Advocacy Award, State of GA
- Mary Beth Pelt, Advocacy Award, Troup County Schools
- Richard Tillman, Advocacy Award, Atlanta Wolfpack
- Len Boudreaux, Coach of the Year Award, Gwinnett Heat
- John Bolles, Coach of The Year Award, Muscogee Lions
- Melissa Ring-Hartman, Coach of The Year Award, Houston County Sharks
- Anna Henry, Coach of The Year Award, Houston County Sharks
- Jacob Roche, Coach of The Year Award, Troup County /West GA Wolverines
- Delton Schoates, Coach of The Year Award, DeKalb Silver Streaks
- Kids Mobility Network, Community-Based Program Award, Colorado
- Marlana Butler, Gail Hendricks Volunteerism Award, Gwinnett Heat
- Michael Davis, Gail Hendricks Volunteerism Award, Clayton Eagles
- Nicholas Griffin, Gail Hendricks Volunteerism Award, West GA Wolverines
- Christa Hartman, Gail Hendricks Volunteerism Award, Houston County Sharks
- Harlon Matthews, Gail Hendricks Volunteerism Award, Henry Hurricanes
- Brother Jerry Walls, Gail Hendricks Volunteerism Award, Houston County Sharks
- Zoey Schied, High School Senior Athlete Award, Muscogee Lions
- Abby Simmons, High School Senior Athlete Award, West GA Wolverines
- Corey Swain, High School Senior Athlete Award, DeKalb Silver Streaks
- Langley Yoh, High School Senior Athlete Award, Houston County Sharks
- Everette Schoates, Leadership Award
- Steven Lewis, Leslie Sweatman Official of The Year Award, Clayton Eagles
- Leon Porter*, Leslie Sweatman Official of The Year Award (*posthumously), All teams
- Mark Brock, Media "Hero" Award, DeKalb
- Marvin James, Media "Hero" Award, WMAZ Channel 13
- Jasmine Boyce, Outstanding Female Athlete of The Year Award, Clayton Eagles
- Bailey McCartney, Outstanding Female Athlete of The Year Award, West Georgia Wolverines
- Abby Simmons, Outstanding Female Athlete of The Year Award, West GA Wolverines
- Elianna Stevens, Outstanding Female Athlete of The Year Award, Houston County Sharks
- Juanito Canuto, Outstanding Male Athlete of The Year Award, Clayton Eagles
- Najee Smothers, Outstanding Male Athlete of The Year Award, DeKalb Silver Streaks
- Dylan Thompson, Outstanding Male Athlete of The Year Award, Houston County Sharks
- Clayton County Eagles, School-Based Program Award
- DeKalb County Silver Streaks, School-Based Program Award
- Henry County Hurricanes, School-Based Program Award
- Jennifer Spiegel, Crimson Pride/Hillgrove High School, School-Based Program Award
- West Georgia Wolverines, School-Based Program Award
ASPIRE Award Categories
Advocacy Award
- Individual or organization - Presented to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional efforts toward the needs and rights of individuals with disabilities.
Education-based Award
- Group, Team or Organization- School or School District Program. Presented to those groups who have demonstrated excellence and/or outstanding achievement in establishing, expanding or sustaining adapted sports programming in their school community.
Community-based Award
- Group, Team or Organization (Recreation Department, YMCA, Club program, or other) - Presented to those groups who have demonstrated excellence and/or outstanding achievement in establishing, expanding or sustaining adapted sports programming in their community.
Media Award
- News Organization or Individual - Presented to an individual or news organization that provides conscientious coverage and visibility to AAASP’s sports leagues (should be active working media – Radio, TV, Newspaper, magazine, film writers, producers, online bloggers, anchors, etc.)
Gail Hendricks Volunteerism Award
- Individual - Presented to an individual or organization that has demonstrated exceptional efforts in support of AAASP’s sports league.
Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year Award
- Individual - Presented to a male athlete that has demonstrated exceptional efforts and leadership qualities in the AAASP’s sports league.
Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year Award
- Individual - Presented to a female athlete that has demonstrated exceptional efforts and leadership qualities in the AAASP’s sports league.
High School Senior Athlete Award
- Individual - Presented to a Senior in High School that has demonstrated exceptional efforts and leadership qualities in the AAASP’s sports league.
Coach of the Year Award
- Individual
Leslie Sweatman Official of the Year Award
- Individual
The ASPIRE Awards Hall of Fame:
- Jeff Battles, Advocacy Award, Muscogee Lions
- Senator Kim Jackson, Advocacy Award, State of GA
- Anna Henry, Coach of The Year Award, Houston County Sharks
- Delton Schoates, Coach of The Year Award, DeKalb Silver Streaks
- Kids Mobility Network, Community-Based Program Award, Colorado
- Marlana Butler, Gail Hendrick Volunteerism Award, Gwinnett Heat
- Michael Davis, Gail Hendrick Volunteerism Award, Clayton Eagles
- Nicholas Griffin, Gail Hendrick Volunteerism Award, West GA Wolverines
- Christa Hartman, Gail Hendrick Volunteerism Award, Houston County Sharks
- Leon Porter*, Leslie Sweatman Official of The Year Award (*posthumously), All teams
- Marvin James, Media "Hero" Award, WMAZ Channel 13
- Zoey Schied, Outstanding High School Senior Athlete Award, Muscogee Lions, Muscogee County Schools
- Elianna Stevens, Outstanding Female Athlete of The Year Award, Houston County Sharks
- Najee Smothers, Outstanding Male Athlete of The Year Award, DeKalb Silver Streaks
- Clayton County Eagles, School-Based Program Award
- Mike Emery, Founder's Award, former Gwinnett County Public Schools Athletic and Activities Director
- Harlon Matthews, Founder's Award, Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, Henry County Parks and Recreation
- Ernie Yarbrough, Founder's Award, Assistant Executive Director of the Georgia High School Association, and longtime AAASP supporter
- Carol McCullough, Founder's Award, Richmond County Schools retired teacher and AAASP Area Coordinator
- Janie Thompson Avant, Founder's Award, retired Gwinnett County Public Schools teacher to special needs populations, former Paralympic coach and founder of the Atlanta Disabled Sports Foundation