2023 Finalists
Congratulations to all of the finalists of the 2023 Varsity Brands School Spirit Awards.
Grand Prize: America’s Most Spirited High School
Finalists:
- Broken Arrow High School | Broken Arrow, OK
- Lake Howell High School | Winter Park, FL
- Perrysburg High School | Perrysburg, OH
- Saraland High School | Saraland, AL
- Vista Murrieta High School | Murrieta, CA
Athlete
Finalists:
- Carson Watters – Philip Simmons High School | Charleston, SC
- Elena Meader – Fuqua School | Farmville, VA
- Elizabeth Margolis – Rogers High School | Newport, RI
- Ella Pursley – Richmond Hill High School | Richmond Hill, GA
- Garrett Schmidt – Batavia High School | Batavia, NY
- Kyle Hicks – Howard High School | Macon, GA
- Maddax Peck – Bingham High School | South Jordan, UT
- Makayla Williams – Gallatin High School | Gallatin, TN
- Sutton Gore – Westminster Christian Academy | Huntsville, AL
- Zak Nelson – Salem Hills High School | Salem, UT
Athletic Director
Finalists:
- Andrea Bouwhuis – Bingham High School | South Jordan, UT
- Dan Howey – Woodbury Junior-Senior High School | Woodbury, NJ
- Daniel Roan – Indiana Area Senior High School | Indiana, PA
- Emily Barkley – Union Public Schools | Tulsa, OK
- Jamie Williams – Windsor High School | Windsor, CA
- Latavia Coleman – Howard High School | Macon, GA
- Marcus Yanez – Richwood High School | Monroe, LA
- Nate Andrews – Olympic High School | Bremerton, WA
- Paul Rieser – Tacony Academy Charter High School | Philadelphia, PA
- Ryan McMillen – Muskego High School | Muskego, WI
- Scott Helms – Hartford Union High School | Hartford, WI
- Stacy Bennett – Richmond Hill High School | Richmond Hill, GA
- Steven Gunn – Rutland High School | Macon, GA
Coach
Finalists:
- Chris Russo – Monticello High School | Monticello, NY
- Coach Sato – Bingham High School | South Jordan, UT
- Damarrea Lewis – White Oak ISD | Big Sandy, TX
- Jaci Pippen – Jacksboro HS | Jacksboro, TX
- Jeff Klein – Loachapoka High School | Auburn, AL
- Jen Hughes – Salem Hills High School | Salem, UT
- Jennifer Cheatham – Martinsville High School | Martinsville, IN
- Keri Newton – Cherokee High School | Cherokee, AL
- Lisa Wheeler – Grassland Middle School | Franklin, TN
- Micah Kurtz – Windermere Prep School | Windermere, FL
- Mike Goebel – Mater Dei High School | Evansville, IN
- Nick Artigue – Ouachita Parish High School | Monroe, LA
- Nick Lebo – Stephen F. Austin High School | Austin, TX
- Sarah Chagnon – Gretna high School | Gretna, NE
- Taryn Witt – Brentsville District High School | Warrenton, VA
- Vicki Williams – Chapin High School | Chapin, SC
Game Day Experience
Finalists:
- Clovis East High School | Clovis, CA
- Gallatin High School | Gallatin, TN
- Independence High School | Thompson’s Station, TN
- Rutland High School | Macon, GA
Graduation
Finalists:
- Ada High School | Ada, OH
- Capistrano Valley High School | Mission Viejo, CA
- Gallatin High School | Gallatin, TN
- Rio Grande High School | Albuquerque, NM
- Rutland High School | Macon, GA
- Salem Hills High School | Salem, UT
- Santa Margarita Catholic High School | Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Mascot
Finalists:
- Blaise Bittle – Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School | Oklahoma City, OK
- Dina Kinnune – Key West High School | Key West, FL
- Kaela Young – Bishop Gorman Catholic School | Tyler, TX
Performing Arts
Finalists:
- Centralia High School | Centralia, IL
- Gallatin High School | Gallatin, TN
- North Allegheny High School | Cranberry Township, PA
- O’Fallon Township High School | O’Fallon, IL
- Revere High School | Richfield, OH
- Salem Hills High School | Salem, UT
- Webb School of Knoxville | Knoxville, TN
Principal
Finalists:
- Chad Stone – Tift County High School | Tifton, GA
- Dan Lee – Ada High School | Ada, OH
- Erin Davis – Randolph-Henry High School | Charlotte Court House, VA
- Jeff Bell – Martinsville High School | Martinsville, IN
- John McCabe – Parkway West High School | Ballwin, MO
- Keith Green – Hemlock High School | Hemlock, MI
- Ken Carver – Muhlenberg High School | Greenville, KY
- Dr. LaToya Smith – Howard High School | Macon, GA
- Lewis Bradford – Northwest Rankin High School | Flowood, MS
- Michael Howard – Lake Howell High School | Winter Park, FL
- Robert Rasmussen – Ocean View High School | Huntington Beach, CA
- Ron Becker – Gallatin High School | Gallatin, TN
- Wendy Pooler – Rutland High School | Macon, GA
Spirit of St. Jude
Finalists:
- Cherokee County School District | Canton, GA
- Los Alamitos High School | Los Alamitos, CA
Staff Member
Finalists:
- Alice Lauderdale – Gallatin High School | Gallatin, TN
- Alicia Peterson – Arapahoe High School | Centennial, CO
- Chanda Smith – Ada High School | Ada, OH
- Laurel Gast – Rancho San Juan High School | Salinas, CA
- Richard Barker – Richmond Hill High School | Richmond Hill, GA
- Robyn Miller – Salem Hills High School | Salem, UT
Student
Finalists:
- Brianah Bezada – Keys Gate Charter School | Homestead, FL
- Chase Stanger – Franklin Community High School | Franklin, IN
- Jakye Nunley – Eaglecrest High School | Aurora, CO
- Madeline White – Pierce County High School | Blackshear, GA
- Noah Harris – Brownsboro High School | Chandler, TX
- Peyton McDonald – Christian Brothers High School | Sacramento, CA
- Reagan Williford – South Johnston High School | Four Oaks, NC
Superintendent
Finalists:
- Andrae Townsel – Calvert County Public Schools | Prince Frederick, MD
- Brenton Hoesing – Lewis Central Community Schools | Council Bluffs, IA
- Brian Hightower – Cherokee County School District | Canton, GA
- Keri Hampton – Brownsboro ISD | Chandler, TX
- Kevin Reiman – Weeping Water Public School | Weeping Water, NE
- Natasha Milazzo – Crestwood School District | Mountain Top, PA
- Quentin Lee – Talladega City Schools | Talladega, AL
Teacher
Finalists:
- Abigail Whicker – Mater Dei High School | Evansville, IN
- Amber Thomas – Bingham High School | South Jordan, UT
- Andy Gault – Bothell High School | Seattle, WA
- Carmen Hood – Pierce County High School | Blackshear, GA
- David Lusk – Ada High School | Ada, OH
- Dustin Shannon – Winchester Community High School | Winchester, IN
- Hollie Alexander – Gallatin High School | Gallatin, TN
- Jeff Klein – Loachapoka High School | Auburn, AL
- Mike Burdsall – Danville Community High School | Danville, IN
- Tom Gayda – North Central High School | Indianapolis, IN
Yearbook
Finalists:
- Ada High School | Ada, OH
- Brighton High School | Brighton, CO
- Marana High School | Tucson, AZ
- Miami Sunset Senior High School | Miami, FL
- Oak Hill High School | Converse, IN
- Rio Rancho High School | Rio Rancho, NM
- Royal High School | Royal City, WA
- Tonasket High School | Tonasket, WA
- Sue Cleveland High School | Rio Rancho, NM
- Vista Ridge High School | Colorado Springs, CO
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