Cincinnati, Ohio, December 1, 2014 – Saint Ursula Academy (SUA) is proud to announce that senior Teresa Callahan of White Oak is the 2014-2015 recipient of the “Respect the Game of Life” award for her dedication to many organizations, athletic events, and co-curricular activities at SUA. The award recognizes individuals who display good sportsmanship, ethics and integrity in high school sports and/or co-curricular activities.
The GAA Sportsmanship Committee, led by Marissa DelGado of Clifton, Sophia Settle of Hyde Park, Gracie Ehemann of Anderson Township, and Sarah Moore of Villa Hills, KY selected Teresa based on her dedication to the Saint Ursula community.
Teresa joined the SUA swim team as a sophomore and has been plagued by injuries since joining. That hasn’t dampened her will to encourage and support her teammates, however. Swim coach Ann Gartner said, “Teresa has been a joy to have on the swim team. Even when she dealt with injuries that prevented her from swimming, she continued to come to practice and meets. She went from being an injured swimmer to a ‘de facto’ assistant coach. I could really count on Teresa to help me on a daily basis at a crucial time in the season. Teresa can always be counted on to do whatever needs to be done to help our team succeed.”
Sophia Settle was honored to present the award to Teresa. “Although Teresa’s goal is to make a contribution, it’s actually the organizations that reap the benefits of her presence. Teresa’s positive energy in doing the little things that make a big difference is what sets her apart. She is not looking for adulation, admiration or ‘props’. Her enthusiasm is contagious and a shining example of being a true young woman of purpose and character.
Saint Ursula Theatre Director Allison Hinkel commented on Teresa’s willingness to do whatever is necessary to help promote St. Ursula Academy. “Go to a volleyball game? She’s taking stats. See the Bulldog mascot at a swim meet? She’s the Bulldog. Talking to a family at Open House, she’s the tour guide.”
St. Ursula Academy President Lelia Keefe Kramer agrees that Teresa is the perfect candidate for this award. “Every time I attend a school event Teresa is there cheering, lending a helping hand, and being a great support to her SUA Sisters. The most memorable moment I have of Teresa was last year at the swimming meet at Miami University. I came in and the first person I saw in the stands was Teresa. I asked who she was with and she said that she came up by herself to cheer on her teammates. I will never forget the pride I had in her and in our SUA community. As we celebrate the PROPHET this school year, I certainly consider Teresa as one who possess these special qualities.”
The SUA Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Committee developed this award in the fall of 2009 with the backing of the Ohio High School Athletic Association. The goal is to promote good sportsmanship and shine a light on examples of positive behavior.
The recipient of the Respect the Game award can be a coach, educator, parent, official or even a person from outside our SUA community. They just need to embody the qualities of sportsmanship, ethics and integrity in their work in the school.
The criteria for a Respect the Game nomination is as follows:
- The recipient demonstrates a high level of sportsmanship every day.They understand the importance of high school co-curriculars as valuable and as such it is worthy of respect.
- The person acts with courtesy, dignity and pride. They demonstrate the importance of putting others ahead of themselves in an ongoing effort to practice the importance of teamwork.
- The recipient’s attitude is able to sway others to follow her and her methods of demonstrating good sportsmanship. SUA is committed to ethics and integrity in athletics, clubs, student organizations and all co-curricular activities and rewards good sportsmanship.
- The school has a formal Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Committee that sets the standards and selects the award recipients.
In fact, St. Ursula is the only GGCL School in Cincinnati to have received the prestigious Harold A. Meyer Sportsmanship Award by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) and has won it ten consecutive years!
To learn more about St. Ursula Academy, please visit www.saintursula.org.
St. Ursula Academy is a Catholic, college-preparatory, secondary school for young women known for academic excellence and rich tradition. St. Ursula welcomes students from more than 70 grade schools in the Greater Cincinnati area. In 2002 the Academy was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School. The campus, located at 1339 E. McMillan Street in East Walnut Hills has been the home of St. Ursula Academy and Convent since 1910. The Class of 2014 earned college scholarships totaling more than $20-million.