Marietta High School student and golf athlete Kyle Ponder has been named the 2015 Most Positive Male Athlete in Georgia by Positive Athlete Georgia.
Ponder was selected out of more than 2,000 nominations received from coaches, principals, athletic directors, teachers and parents, representing greater than 150 public and private schools.
"Kyle is the epitome of a student-athlete," said Marietta City Schools Athletic Director Paul Hall. "He's had to overcome a lot of adversity in his life and never let it be an excuse in the classroom or on the playing field. I am proud to say that he is a Marietta Blue Devil. We need more like him."
Former University of Georgia and Pittsburgh Steelers athlete Hines Ward and Atlanta executive Scott Pederson created Positive Athlete as a movement for more positivity in youth sports.
In addition to excellence on the field, each nominated Positive Athlete was required to show characteristics such as an optimistic attitude, teammate encouragement, servant leadership, a heart for others, ability to admit imperfections, 100 percent effort all the time and the realization that the team is a priority.
"We did not put out a search for the best athletes in Georgia," Ward said. "We put out a search for kids with positive attitudes whose efforts don't necessarily show up on the stat sheets. These kids are also positive role models in their schools who get involved in charitable causes, have already learned the meaning of giving back at an early age, and many have overcome difficult circumstances and remained positive."
"These young men and women deserve our highest praise for their accomplishments on as well as off the playing field," said Lt. Governor Casey Cagle. "Through these awards, I know that we can hold up these young adults as an example to others of the importance of hard work and civic engagement. These athletes have worked hard on the playing field and in their communities, and I could not be more proud of them."
"The most successful business men and women are positive individuals, so we're using sports to help instill those characteristics at a young age," Pederson said. "Positivity is a life skill that will help any young person deal with relationships, obstacles and opportunities."
Information: Georgia.positiveathlete.org.
