We were proud to recognize a longtime friend, supporter and colleague, past GHSA Executive Director and AAASP Board Member, Dr. Ralph Swearingin at the 2025 ASPIRE Awards, by naming an award, in his honor — the Dr. Ralph Swearngin Spirit of AAASP Award.
The Dr. Ralph Swearngin Spirit of AAASP Award is Given to the individual or athlete who exemplifies exceptional sportsmanship and embodies the core values of respect, integrity, and positivity. Recognized throughout the league for their unwavering dedication to fair play, this individual consistently demonstrates grace in victory and resilience in defeat, while fostering a spirit of camaraderie and support among teammates and competitors alike.
Dr. Ralph Swearngin was an ASPIRE Awards Founders Awards recipient himself in 2019.
The official declaration:
Declared on the 26th of October, 2025, at the ASPIRE Awards in Atlanta…
The Spirt of AAASP ASPIRE Award will henceforth be named the “Dr. Ralph Swearngin Spirit of AAASP Award” in recognition of Dr. Swearngin’s outstanding contributions to the mission and advancement of the American Association of Adapted Sports Programs (AAASP).
We look forward to giving this award annually, to someone who embodies the same principals to us, as Dr. Swearngin did for AAASP over the first two decades of the organization.
Thank you Dr. Swearngin!
The 2025 Dr. Ralph Swearngin Spirit of AAASP Award was given to Najee Smothers, DeKalb Silver Streaks.