Gainesville, Fl. - The Florida High School Athletic Association announced Thursday the winners of the sixth annual Roger Dearing
Heart of the Arts Award and the Roger Dearing
Spirit of Sport Award. Adam Elitzur (Posnack Jewish Day School) earned the Heart of the Arts honor while Asher Walker (Tavares High School) took home the Spirit of Sport award.
Both nominees demonstrated their hard work and efforts to give back to their communities. Elitzur and Walker will both receive a $1,500 scholarship in their names on behalf of the FHSAA.
Roger Dearing Heart of the Arts Award
Adam Elitzur, Posnack Jewish Day School (Davie) – Elitzur owns a 4.0 GPA and is an Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction at Posnack Jewish Day School. He is a National Merit Semifinalist, Editor-in-Chief for the Posnack Pulse, president of Posnack Programming Team, and member of marching band and National Honor Society. Elitzur serves as a volunteer coding teacher to students in Jamaica and teacher at Maccabi Tzair Youth Group. He founded the Intergenerational Chess Program which teaches chess to senior citizens in a local elderly home. Elitzur placed third at the Posnack School Revival Artwalk Competition, competed at the New York State School Music Association in level 5 piano, and won the Congressional App Challenge in Florida’s 25
th District. He has turned his interest into programming, music, and love for his community into a passion project with his website, Songlingo. Upon moving to South Florida, Elitzur was struck by the communication barriers for non-English speakers as he volunteers with youth organizations with students and families who spoke no English and has difficulties forming relationships with their new community. Not only did Elitzur learn Spanish to help, but he thought he could use creativity to help others, too. From there, the concept for Songlingo was born; a website to help people learn languages through music. Not only has Songlingo improved language learning for thousands of people, including Elitzur himself, but it has been recognized by United States Congress through the Congressional App Challenge. Elitzur’s platform is thriving with 6,200 language learners from over 65 countries and has help unite communities and reduce barriers.
Roger Dearing Spirit of Sport Award
Asher Walker, Tavares High School – Walker owns a 3.63 GPA and is an Advanced Placement Scholar at Tavares High School. He earned varsity letter in swimming all four years of high school. Walker is a four-year state qualifier at the Florida High School Swimming and Diving State Championships. His senior year, Walker placed seventh in the 50 free and placed third in 100 free and set a new school record. Last year, Walker was named Triangle News Leader and Fox 35 Athlete of the Week and was recognized as an Outstanding Student by Lake & Sumter Style Magazine. Outside of sports, he is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, You’re Not Alone, and National Honor Society. He volunteers with Summit Church, Swim America, and Tavares High School. You’re Not Alone is a teen mental health educational program and social media campaign designed to train local youth to understand that is okay to seek help. As a trained and certified You’re Not Alone ambassador, Walker is equipped with tools that will help gradually reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. The program is meaningful to Walker because his father dealt with bi-polar depression, never received help, and passed away due to suicide. Walker’s mission is to remove the stigma surrounding depression, so no one ever is scared to ask for help.
About the Roger Dearing Heart of the Arts Award
The FHSAA has developed the “Roger Dearing Heart of the Art Awards,” to honor individual(s) who embody “Heart of the Arts.” The award covers an excess of performing arts disciplines and seeks to recognize those individuals who illustrate a positive heart of the arts and represent the core mission of education-based activities. The award may be given in recognition of specific act or for an activity of longer duration. The winner of the Roger Dearing Heart of the Arts Award will be submitted to the National Federation of State High School Athletic Associations (NFHS) as the FHSAA’s nomination for the NFHS Heart of the Arts Award.
About the Roger Dearing Spirit of Sport Award
The FHSAA has developed the “Roger Dearing Spirit of Sport Awards,” to seek those individual(s) who showcase the ideals of the positive spirit of sport and represent the core mission of education-based athletics. The individual or group should demonstrate exemplary sportsmanship, exceed normal expectations, and has overcome adversity or a challenging circumstance. The award may be given in recognition of specific act or for an activity of longer duration. . The winner of the Roger Dearing Heart of the Arts Award will be submitted to the National Federation of State High School Athletic Associations (NFHS) as the FHSAA’s nomination for the NFHS Heart of the Arts Award.
About the FHSAA
The Florida High School Athletic Association supervises and regulates interscholastic athletic programs for high school students at member public, private and charter schools. The organization also recognizes and honors academic achievement among student-athletes at over 800 middle, junior and senior high schools statewide. Headquartered in Gainesville, it is the official governing body for interscholastic athletics in Florida.