It's time for the 2009 Ambassador Team Awards! We have all the information you need to get your project together and submit your application.


West Brook High School Stars Dance Team - Beaumont, Texas

The West Brook High School Stars started the Kids Dance Clinics in order to combat the alarming rates of obesity in Beaumont, Texas. Kimberly Still, the West Brook Stars captain, stated that “children are getting less daily activity due to lack of recess in school, a decrease in walking and riding bikes, and a lack of physical activity in homes.” As GoGirlGo! Ambassadors, the Stars wanted to see a decrease in growing health problems like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol, by demonstrating leadership in their community and inspiring girls to get physically active while sharing in their love of dancing. They encouraged 138 girls to participate in both the fall and spring one-day events that included food, fun and laughter! After learning routines throughout the clinics, the project ended with a performance in May to showcase what they had learned to eager parents, friends and relatives.

White Knoll High School Volleyball Team - Lexington, S.C.

“We try to help girls make their way to becoming female sports stars!” said volleyball captain Sarah Barton at White Knoll High School. In the two volleyball clinics the team held in May and June of this year, the team was able to get 76 girls active, ranging from grades one through eight. In their Lexington, S.C., community, the players taught the girls skills and drills necessary to take them to the next level. Through a generous donation from the National Guard, the girls received volleyballs to take home, allowing them to continue practicing. The feedback from parents in the community was tremendously positive, which is evident by the double participation increase since last year. The players feel satisfied that they achieved their goal of inspiring girls to excel and become better players.

Southern Garrett Girls’ Indoor Track Team - Oakland, Md.

Running is fun? The Southern Garrett Girls Indoor Track Team members sure think so, and they went on a mission to spread this message to young girls in the community. They created a program for 21 girls that included workouts, fitness tips and games throughout four sessions. A final track meet wrapped up the program and the girl’s accomplishments were recognized in the local newspaper. Each participant learned racing strategies such as how to use starting blocks, lanes and pass a baton. Campers especially enjoyed learning field events like the high jump and long jump. The success of the camp was evident in a conversation that was heard between two campers who were discussing a television show, “This camp is much more fun than sitting at home watching television!” I guess running really can be fun.

Lincoln Lady Cougars Softball Team - Enterprise, W.V.

The Lady Cougars decided to dismiss comments that stated girls their age were unable to organize and administer a softball camp for the younger girls in their community. The team was motivated to expose younger kids to the sport of softball, teach them that it takes hard work to achieve their goals, but most of all, have fun. Momentum was created with this motivation in mind as they gained active participation from 27 girls ranging in age from 7–12. Throughout the day, the team organized themselves to be in charge of a diverse stations. For example, some stations included hitting, fielding, outfield and base running. Other team members were busy registering the young girls and the rest took care of drinks, putting up signs and getting prizes organized. Each camper received a certificate, prizes and a special award, such as MVP, Heart and Hustle and Sportsmanship. “This first of what will be many more free softball camps was a rewarding experience that we did ourselves and will remember the rest of our lives,” said captain, Chelsea Holcomb.

George Westinghouse Lady Bulldogs Basketball Team - Pittsburg, Pa.

Westinghouse High School, centrally located in the highly risky and crime infested community of Pittsburg, Pa., successfully led a two-week basketball clinic this May. The Lady Bulldogs were able to recruit 72 students from six schools in the community, grades three through 12, to participate in the program. The inspiration for this idea was based on the players’ own struggles as a team to fundraise for basketball camps, workshops and team activities in and around the city. They realized the many financial limitations that families in the community faced in getting girls physically active. As a result, the Lady Bulldogs worked diligently to plan the overall itinerary for the clinic, obtain building permits, secure a safe location, enlist guest speakers, advertise the event and provide prizes and awards. “This clinic for the girls in the community was definitely a benefit because lasting relationships were made on and off the court,” said Anna Goode, the captain of the Lady Bulldogs. Players continue to meet with former participants at the local YMCA or playgrounds to continue working on their game!

San Diego Lady Saints Ice Hockey Team - San Diego, Calif.

The Lady Saints created buzz in the San Diego ice hockey community this spring during a four-session clinic, which included nutrition, exercise and conditioning, hockey skills and was concluded with an on-ice clinic. The members of the team opened up their rink to girls in the community who were interested in learning the basics of the sport while meeting up with other girls in the area. The high school team was in charge of organizing and promoting the event as well as securing donations for snacks and prizes. The program not only provided 28 girls with a foundation in the sport of ice hockey and produced future Lady Saint team members for the upcoming season, but it also gave the current team an opportunity to learn about responsibility and leadership.

Shelton High School Girls’ Soccer Team - Shelton, Conn.

What better way to connect a youth program with a varsity team than through the players themselves? The Shelton High School Girls’ Soccer Team members decided to act as role models to the younger girls in the community by creating a soccer camp for 43 girls ages 4–7. Their goal was to share their love for soccer and show that being active is not a temporary thrill, but a lifestyle. The Shelton High School Team creatively designed the camp around the Women’s World Cup event—dividing the girls into six teams, each one representing a country that participates in the World Cup. The teams learned about their country’s history, flag, food and cheers. The camp finished with a tournament in which players showcased the skills they had learned over the course of the week. The team decided to substitute the registration fee with a contribution made by the parents to the charity UNICEF, for which $700 was raised.

Rickards Raiders Softball Team - Tallahassee, Fla.

The Rickards High School Softball Team decided to level the playing field for itself and its community by creating a program that exposed younger girls to softball through two free softball camps. Most schools that Rickards High School competes against have been exposed to softball from a young age through a variety of local programs, but the Rickard Raiders struggle annually to put together a team of experienced and able players to create a complete varsity squad. The camps provided 33 girls with throwing, fielding, batting and base running skills from members of the varsity team and their coaches. The program was a success; it has created buzz in the community and provided an opportunity for girls in the area to get exposed to the sport at an earlier age while making girls within the disadvantaged area feel a sense of accomplishment and pride.

Kewanee Boilermakers Volleyball Team - Kewanee, Ill.

Just because something has never been done before, doesn’t mean it won’t be. The Kewanee Boilermakers High School Volleyball Team members took it upon themselves to create a solution to the recent rise in drug abuse and criminal activity in the area by getting girls active. Since Kewanee lacked local volleyball programs, they decided to create a summer camp and a league for 75 girls grades four through six. The team was sure that if the girls were exposed to the sport, they would steer away from risky behavior and participate in healthier activities with their friends. Campers were shown basic skills and techniques and interacted with positive role models who helped mentor the girls on and off the court. The varsity team took on a leadership role with the girls and initiated a program that will create a more active and healthier community for the future.

South Bend Clay Colonials Basketball Team - South Bend, Ind.

What better way to create a sense of pride among girls in an urban and culturally diverse neighborhood than to teach them the benefits of being physically active. The South Bend Clay Girls Basketball Team created a basketball skills camp for grades three through eight that focused on the fundamentals of shooting, passing, ball-handling and footwork while incorporating daily competition in which players could implement the skills learned. Awards were given to the girls who demonstrated the most improvement, hustle and best sportsmanship. By the end of the varsity clinic, member Elese Daniel said, “The camp develop(ed) a sense of pride and ownership in our district for girls basketball. By generating an interest at an early age, the girls will continue in a life-long sport and be more physically active as a result.”

Calverton Cougars Field Hockey Team - Huntington, Md.

Being healthy is about mind and body. The members of the Calverton Cougars Field Hockey Team decided to spread their knowledge of both during a clinic for 92 middle school girls in the Huntington area. Each day of the clinic, the girls were exposed to new passing and hitting skills that could be applied in a game situation. They had so much fun; both girls and coaches, alike, did not want to go home. The girls not only fulfilled their goal of showcasing how much fun physical activity is, they also conducted a seminar that discussed issues related to body image. The Calverton Cougars were able to show the younger girls of their community the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and positive body image through clinics and their own personal experiences.

Rockford Varsity Softball - Rockford, Mich.

What started as a way to gain interest in the sport soon sprung into what was affectionately named “Snowball Softball.” The Rockford High School Softball Team hosted a winter softball program during December and January to learn about the game, sharpen skills and produce enough players to fill a varsity, junior varsity and freshman squad. Fifty campers jumped at the chance to work with their role models one on one. For a few hours every Sunday, campers practiced fielding, throwing, batting, catching as well as team building exercises. The camp culminated with the Snowball Softball game in which the girls were able to put their newly learned skills to use. Rockford High School softball player Samantha Klinkner said she knew the camp was a success when “we were swarmed with hugs from Softball Snowball campers” after one of their home games.

Cambridge Rindge and Latin Varsity Gymnastics - Cambridge, Mass.

The Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School Varsity Gymnastics Team decided to start a GoGirlGo! program in Cambridge to increase awareness of how sports can play an important role in the lives of girls. The gymnasts created a four-week program for 20 girls ages 7-13. Each session, the girls built up their endurance, flexibility and gymnastics skills. Off the mat, four members of the team attended GoGirlGo! training in order to build a four-week program around the curriculum. Together, the campers and high school students discussed issues such as bullying, stereotypes and body image. This program, which emphasized the importance of an active lifestyle, gave girls in the community the opportunity to get hands-on gymnastics training that they may not have gotten elsewhere.

Summit Hilltoppers Basketball Team - Summit, N.J.

When the Summit Hilltoppers decided to give back to the younger girls in the community, they did so in a big way. In December, they hosted a free clinic for 150 inactive girls ranging from 5-13 years of age. Each girl received coaching from members of the varsity and junior varsity teams. The girls were shown that staying active could be enjoyable as well as beneficial. Team captain, Jenna Wilson said, “It feels good teaching others something you love because you hope one day that person can share in the joy and excitement we have for that sport.” The basketball team also planned a fundraiser to raise awareness for breast cancer called Hoops for Hope. The Summit Hilltoppers were able to raise $800 for the Susan G. Koman for the Cure Foundation with the support of the Summit community. The team looks forward to expanding both events in the upcoming years.

Special Edition Dance Team - Cleveland, Ohio

The Special Edition Dance Team members chose to start the program “Girls in Sports” when they noticed a large proportion of the girls they worked with in the community had a negative attitude towards physical activity and displayed unhealthy habits. “Girls in Sports” was created to show girls that physical activity was a fun alternative to watching television. Special Edition recruited 24 girls and provided them with eight weeks of challenges, games and sports. During the final five weeks of the program, the girls were introduced to the game of volleyball. After several weeks of bumping, setting and spiking, they squared off against each other in a tournament. Several community members attended to show their support for the efforts and accomplishments of the girls. Through the “Girls in Sports” program, participants learned that being active makes you feel good By the end of the program, all the girls signed pledges that stated “I will remain active for a lifetime!”

Northwestern Lady Cats Softball Team - Albion, Pa.

The Northwestern Lady Cats Softball Team members believe that when girls see how exercise has affected their bodies and increased their energy, they gain self esteem and confidence. The Lady Cats continue to demonstrate leadership in their community of Albion, Pa., by inspiring girls to get involved in softball and physical activity. In February, the team committed to a four-week volunteer project with the Northwestern Little League. Making a significant impact on over 400 young ladies, the project offered clinics targeted to providing information regarding Little League Softball, a hitting clinic and a “fun”damentals clinic. The Lady Cats also emphasized the importance of being on a team and how it impacts the development of skills in socializing, working together and patience. Always looking to improve, team captain Danelle Soltis said, “Next year, we would like to repeat these activities and enhance them with mentoring.”

Greensburg Salem Girls’ Basketball Boosters - Greensburg, Pa.

In Greensburg, Pa., the Greensburg Salem Girls’ Basketball Boosters have been committed to helping girls get fit and active through a basketball camp they started in July 2008. The team made an extra effort in promoting their event by creating literature and distributing it throughout their community. They exhibited their commitment to the project on Memorial Day weekend by setting up a promotional booth at their local celebration. “I think it is really important to make fitness fun and challenging so that it is something a person will keep doing their whole life long and not just while they are on a team or have to take gym,” said the team captain, Nicole Harris. Available to girls in grades three through eight, the week-long camp was designed to positively impact the daily health and physical fitness of the girls in the community. The participants learned advanced level sports skills and how to build muscles and were given the opportunity to make new friends.

La Salle Academy Lady Rams Basketball Team - Providence, R.I.

The La Salle Academy girls basketball program prides itself for its recent success as back-to-back recipients of the Division 1 state champions in Rhode Island. Due to their commitment to the game, the players “wish to utilize their success as a platform to promote and inspire younger girls to become active,” said captain Jenna Venditto. As a result, they started an annual basketball camp, Get Reddy to Play, named after head coach Sean Reddy. In the five-day clinic, over 75 girls of all ages and skill levels were welcomed to participate and learn skills such as the triple threat, pivoting and lay ups. As a team, the Lady Rams are focused on providing a friendly environment where girls in the community can meet, establish friendships and express their passion for the sport on and off the court.

Henry High School - Henry, S.D.

In a small school district in northeastern South Dakota, a handful of girls noticed a problem in the number of girls participating in athletic programs at school. These female athletes of Henry High School took it upon themselves to get their classmates active by developing a project that introduced a number of sports and showed the benefits of physical activity. The program was broken into a volleyball, cheerleading, basketball, jump rope and an informational physical activity session. The participants learned that it’s not what kind of physical activity you do that matters, but it’s being active that counts. Team captain Shantel Gassman stated, “The teachers in our school have told us that girls are more enthusiastic about playing sports and being active.” They plan on implementing the program every year due to the encouraging increase in participation numbers throughout the athletic programs.

Brainbridge High School Girls Cross Country - Brainbridge Island, Wash.

GoRun! is an after-school running club for intermediate-school girls in the Washington community. These young runners, along with their coaches from the Brainbridge High School Cross Country team, have dedicated themselves to two hours of healthy living per week. Team captain, Rebecca Sharar states, “As a team of girls, we have always worked to give back to the community that has supported us. We thought that one of the best ways to do this was to help educate and interact with the young girls who were not only the future of Brainbridge Cross Country, but also the future of our town and of the world.” In addition to running, the program offered helpful lessons and experienced guest speaker appearances. The finale included a one-mile fun run in a nearby town. They showed girls that running is not just for the ultra-skinny, super-active or extremely fast girls. According to the team motto, “with a decent pair of sneakers and some determination, anyone can run.”

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2009 Award Guidelines and Application