HSD Principal Named Winner in the National USADA True Sports Awards Program

middle school principal has something of which to be proud and its more than seeing her students learn each day.

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and Discovery Education recently named Sonya Ptah, principal of Hazelwood Southeast Middle School, a winner in the national USADA True Sport Awards program. 

Ptah won for her commitment to promoting integrity, respect, character, and healthy choices among St. Louis youth through her proposal, which is designed to increase students’ awareness of steroids and other enhancement drugs, according to a Discovery Education press release. 

“In today’s society, sport is an ever-increasing influence on the culture and value-system of our youth, and USADA is committed to protecting the integrity of sport for future generations,” said USADA Communications & Outreach Director, Erin Hannan. “America’s teachers, coaches, parents, and community leaders have a unique opportunity to instill positive life lessons and teach important values learned through participation in sport, and these winners have done just that.”

The USADA True Sport Awards program encourages teachers, coaches, community leaders, students and school districts, to propose and implement ideas and programs that motivate young people to lead safe, healthy and ethical lives, free from performance-enhancing drugs. This is done so using the life lessons learned through sport as its platform. Proposed programs are consistent with the values and lessons taught in USADA’s free educational curricula, 100% Me and That’s Dope.

Judged on content, originality/creativity, feasibility, clarity, and adherence to program guidelines, Ptah’s winning proposal is a comprehensive program that will be incorporated into her school’s current health curriculum and after-school activity programs.

The program will focus on educating students about how to make informed, positive decisions and providing them with the skills they need to tackle peer pressure and other external forces to make healthy life choices.

Students will attend a Science-Fair where they will demonstrate what they have learned and share that knowledge through public service announcements. 

Ptah has won $2,000 for her school to implement their winning proposal and $1,000 to spend on Discovery Education’s digital classroom services. In addition, she has won a commemoration plaque, a pocket video camera and a $500 cash award.  

“We are proud to recognize Sonya for her dedication and commitment to educating students on the importance of leading safe, drug-free lives,” said Mary Rollins, Discovery Education vice president. “It’s Principals like Sonya that help instill in today’s students a lifelong passion for learning about impactful issues, such as the importance of making smart and ethical decisions.”