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Despite Adversity Maine High School QB Stands Tall
Posted: Jan 23, 2009
A four-year member of the high-honor roll, a three-year varsity letter winner and named to the 2008 Maine All- State All-Academic Team, Lieberman aspires to become a sports journalist and attend Wesleyan University in the fall. "Andrew has distinguished himself as a talented student-athlete, and his selection is about much more than his play on the field," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "He is a young man of amazing character, and he has exhibited extraordinary leadership in his community. We look forward to watching him as he continues his record of success for many years to come." An active member of Play It Smart since Portland High School started the program in 2005, Lieberman has matured into a resilient and selfless team leader. Audrey McKenzie, the academic coach at Portland, nominated Lieberman based on his ability to persevere through multiple challenges while still managing to maintain impressive grades, support his teammates, and serve as a leader in his community. While preparing for his junior year, Lieberman faced the challenge of overcoming the sudden death of his father. In coping with the loss of his true friend and ultimate mentor, Andrew channeled his grief into a desire to give back and serve those less fortunate. His many activities included volunteering with Portland youth football, the Wayside Soup Kitchen and as an active member of Stroudwater Baptist Church. "I realized that even with all I was going through that there were people worse off than me, and I learned to make the best of my situation," said Lieberman. Lieberman continued to face challenges into his senior year when he fractured his ankle early in the season. The injury seemed to prematurely end his involvement with the team during his final high school football season, but after his surgery, he rarely missed a practice, helping to teach the young reserve quarterbacks and cheering on his teammates from the sideline. "He was certainly missed during the regular season. But his perseverance and support for the team was amazing for a kid of his age," said Head Coach Mike Bailey. His hard work paid off, and Lieberman returned to the field for the final game of the season, leading the Bulldog's in their 97th Annual Thanksgiving Day game against cross-town rival Deering High School. The game marked a triumphant return for Lieberman as he passed for 155 yards and two touchdowns. "Looking back on his high school experience, Andrew can be confident in knowing that he made his dad very proud," said McKenzie. Despite his obstacles, Andrew acknowledges that much of his positive demeanor flows from the overwhelming amount of support from his family, friends, the school community, his fellow teammates and his academic coach, Audrey McKenzie. "Play It Smart has genuinely helped Andrew to understand the values of being a leader and serving others. We congratulate him on all of his accomplishments and wish him the best of luck on his journey to college," said Len Stachitas, NFF Vice President and Executive Director of Play It Smart. Each month the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame honors one student-athlete as the Play It Smart Student-Athlete of the Month. Winners are selected from nominations received by academic coaches from 160 schools in 33 states. At the end of the school year the "Student- Athlete of the Year" will be selected from the monthly winners to be honored at the annual Play It Smart National Conference. Play It Smart would like to recognize each of the student-athletes nominated for the December 2008 National Student-Athlete of the Month Award: Athlete of the Month Award Nominees
With major financial support from a broad-coalition of school districts, corporations, individuals and organizations, including the NFL and the NFL Players Association, the Play It Smart program achieved dramatic results that include:
Launched in 1998 and proven as one of the most comprehensive and effective youth development programs in the nation, Play It Smart currently partners with more than 160 schools in 85 different cities throughout the country. The program has shown that sports, when coached in the proper environment, can be used as an effective tool for significantly enhancing the academic performance and goal-setting practices of its participants. Play It Smart fulfills its mission by facilitating the hiring and training of "Academic Coaches" who work at high schools in underserved communities during the entire school year. The year-round Academic Coaches teach participants how to transfer the life skills learned on the playing field and apply them in the classroom and the community for success throughout their lives. Academic Coaches build on the positive peer pressure of the team and a participant's interest in football by utilizing a set of guiding principles and tactics, which are designed to make academic achievement the norm. Tactics include one-on-one goal setting meetings, career and life skills sessions, mandatory study halls, SAT/ACT prep classes, community service projects and other team building events. The success of the program requires the full support of a team's head coach, who must lend his full authority with his players to the efforts of the Academic Coach, as well as the support of the school's administration, especially the principal, the head of guidance, and the athletics director. |
