Florida Student-Athlete Selected as Section 3 Recipient of NFHS National High School Spirit of Sport Award

Florida Student-athlete Selected as Section 3 Recipient of NFHS National High School Spirit of Sport Award

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (February 27, 2013) — David Goldstein, a senior student-athlete at Miami (Florida) Ransom Everglades High School, has been selected as the 2013 Section 3 recipient of the “National High School Spirit of Sport Award” by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

The National High School Spirit of Sport Award was created by the NFHS to recognize those individuals who exemplify the ideals of the spirit of sport that represent the core mission of education-based athletics.

Goldstein, who is a four-year varsity soccer player and team captain, was a two-year all-Miami-Dade County Honorable Mention selection.

Within the academic sphere, Goldstein is in both the National Honor Society and the Cum Laude Society for Top 10% Class GPA.

His extracurricular work includes membership in the Florida High School Athletic Association Student Advisory Committee and working with autistic youth as a member of Best Buddies.

Yet, what really distinguishes Goldstein is the work that he did off the field and outside the classroom that is leading the way to ensure the safety of all student-athletes, and specifically in the area of head injuries and concussions.

Over the course of four years, Goldstein suffered three concussions while playing soccer. As a result of his personal experience, he decided to help ensure that other young athletes don’t have to go through a similar ordeal. After raising money to fund baseline tests, Goldstein was contacted by the Florida Brain Association, which wanted him to assist them in their efforts to raise awareness on this issue.

Goldstein made several trips to Tallahassee to speak to state legislators to get Youth Athlete’s Bill HB 291 passed into law. It was met with opposition and was defeated in May 2011.

Undaunted, Goldstein and his colleagues returned to the state Legislature, where he found himself engaged in a debate with the Senate Health Regulation Committee. Finally, on October 12, 2012, the bill was signed into law.

About the Award

The NFHS divides the nation into eight geographical sections. The states in Section 3 are Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.

Nominations for this award were generated through NFHS member state associations and reviewed by the NFHS Spirit of Sport Award Selection Committee composed of state association staff members.

While the national winner will be recognized June 24 at the NFHS Summer Meeting in Denver, Colorado, the section winners will be recognized within their respective states and will receive awards before the end of the current school year.

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About the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)

The NFHS, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the national leadership organization for high school sports and fine arts activities. Since 1920, the NFHS has led the development of education-based interscholastic sports and fine arts activities that help students succeed in their lives. The NFHS sets direction for the future by building awareness and support, improving the participation experience, establishing consistent standards and Rules for competition, and helping those who oversee high school sports and activities. The NFHS writes playing rules for 17 sports for boys and girls at the high school level. Through its 50 member state associations and the District of Columbia, the NFHS reaches more than 19,000 high schools and 11 million participants in high school activity programs, including more than 7.6 million in high school sports. As the recognized national authority on interscholastic activity programs, the NFHS conducts national meetings; sanctions interstate events; produces publications for high school coaches, officials and athletic directors; sponsors professional organizations for high school coaches, officials, spirit coaches, speech and debate coaches and music adjudicators; serves as the national source for interscholastic coach training; and serves as a national information resource of interscholastic athletics and activities. For more information, visit the NFHS Web site at www.nfhs.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: John Gillis, 317-972-6900

National Federation of State High School Associations

PO Box 690, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206

jgillis@nfhs.org

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