Gold Medalist Mesler Nominated for Champion of Peace of the Year Award
(Classroom Champions PR)
(Oct. 11, 2011)- Bobsled Olympic gold medalist Steve Mesler has been nominated as one of six candidates for the 2011 international Champion for Peace of the Year award. Mesler has impacted the lives of children around the nation by creating Classroom Champions, a non-profit organization that connects underprivileged students throughout the U.S. with Olympian and Paralympian role models through the use of cutting-edge communications technology.
“I’m thankful to Peace and Sport for nominating me for such an amazing award, but it’s really because of the involvement of all of the amazing Olympians and Paralympians donating their time around our country that Classroom Champions is possible,” Mesler said. “I’m really hoping my nomination for this award will help shine light on what these athletes and teachers involved everyday are doing for the Olympic Movement within our country’s schools.”
Peace and Sport was founded in 2007 by modern pentathlon Olympic medalist and world champion Joël Bouzou from France. The organization promotes the practice of structured sport and sporting values to educate young generations and help foster social stability, reconciliation and dialogue between communities, and the Peace and Sport Awards recognizes initiatives and people who have implemented projects that are symbolic of what sport can accomplish to create these links.
The winner of the Champion for Peace of the Year award will be announced at a Gala Evening of the Peace and Sport International Forum on Oct. 27 in Monaco, where the organization is under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco.
Classroom Champions has already made a huge impact on hundreds of underprivileged students just two months into its second year, making Mesler an excellent candidate for the Champion for Peace award. Fifth grade teacher Ms. Angie Riddle from Alder Elementary School in Portland, Oregon said the relationship with 2008 Olympic bronze medal hurdler David Oliver has had a significant influence on her students.
“The Classroom Champions partnership has already deeply touched one of my students,” Riddle said. “Last year he was constantly suspended and in trouble for violence. He is so taken with us being matched with Olympian David Oliver. It seems to have really turned his life around. His mother says it’s all he talks about at home. Thanks for providing him with a chance to get back on the right path.”
Mesler interacted with several classrooms throughout the country via online video while he was en route to making history at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Mesler was a member of the four-man bobsled team that won the first gold medal in 62 years for the U.S. team, and he was able to share his journey of goal setting and achievement with his adopted students.
“You made me realize that I can be a doctor, because if you can do it, I know I can do it,” said a third grade student in one of Mesler’s adopted classrooms in Atlanta, Ga. “And since you finished your dream, I know I can finish mine.”
The success of the pilot program evolved into Classroom Champions, which targets elementary and middle schools where at least 50% of the student population is eligible for free or reduced price lunch. The current 2011-2012 school program has an average of 82% of the students in its schools that qualify for a free or reduced lunch rate, and 28 classrooms were selected to participate.
“The mission of Classroom Champions is to inspire, motivate and educate students in high need schools,” Mesler said. “We want students to recognize their potential, set goals and dream big.”
Seven Olympic and Paralympic medalists and national champions have signed up this school year to communicate with students on a monthly basis via video messages, live video chats and blogs as they train to reach their dreams in London. Athletes teach students about goal setting, perseverance and success-induced habits by sharing their journey of ups and downs as they compete around the world.
To learn more about Classroom Champions athlete ambassadors, adopted classrooms, and about how you can support the program, please visit www.ClassroomChampions.org.
About Classroom Champions
Classroom Champions, founded by Olympic gold medalist Steve Mesler and Leigh Mesler Parise, PhD, is a non-profit organization that pairs high-need classrooms with athletes from the United States Olympic and Paralympic teams. Participation in Classroom Champions offers students a unique opportunity to develop relationships with Olympic and Paralympic athletes while learning about how to embody the Olympic ideals of goal setting, perseverance, and achievement. Classroom Champions would like to thank the following partners for helping the program become a reality for students across the United States: Cisco, Plantronics, Lululemon, eMag Creator and Clover Web Sites. For more information, please visit www.ClassroomChampions.org.
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