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Goalie Designs New Game Plan
Posted: Feb 17, 2009
Li is a four-year varsity letter winner, avid volunteer, and ranked fourth in her senior class. In the fall Li plans to study graphic design at North Carolina State University. Maggie Davis, academic coach at Heritage, nominated Li for her diligence and responsibility to actively plan for college, and for the generosity and time that she dedicates to Play It Smart, all while maintaining her stellar 4.3 GPA. Li has been incredibly meticulous and proactive in her college application process, setting an example for her fellow student-athletes to follow. She has visited several campuses and was invited to interview for a spot in the College of Design at NC State, which only admits between 25-28 freshman each year. “Monica is an extremely talented student-athlete and graphic designer,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. “She has all the tools to be very successful in life. We look forward to watching her put those tools to work and we wish her the best of luck as she prepares for college.” “Play It Smart has impacted me the most in terms of the development of my life skills,” remarked Li. “Interacting with other student-athletes who are just as dedicated to their respective sports has made me more determined to be not just a better student and athlete, but a better person as well.” An advanced graphic design student at Heritage, Li also fashioned the school’s inaugural Play It Smart T-Shirt. “My vision for the shirt was to create a design that illustrated that no sport at Heritage is separate, but that we are all part of one school, all coming together for one common purpose, Play It Smart.” Li put her design talents to work in several other projects for Heritage including the school’s 2008 prom tickets and poster, assisting with the 2008 graduation program layout, and creating the 2009 Heritage High Play It Smart football calendar. On the field Li is a force to be reckoned with. She racked up 100+ saves and was named to the All-District First Team and All-Regional Second Team last season. “She’s our silent leader but when something needs to be said, the team looks to her for leadership,” said Head Coach Amy Page. “On the field she is fearless, passionate and competitive” “Play It Smart has given me a way to increase my self-knowledge and to better plan my future,” said Li. “The program made me think about who I want to become and what goals I want to set for myself. I understand my strengths and weaknesses more completely now.” “Play It Smart has helped Monica to understand the values of being a leader and serving others. We congratulate her on all of her accomplishments and wish her the best of luck on her 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 January 2009 National Student-Athlete of the Month Award 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 33 states 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 athletic director. |
