Having spent her entire career in service to young people, the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) Executive Committee unanimously approved naming the girls soccer mental attitude award in honor of former IHSAA Assistant Commissioner and recently retired NFHS Director of Sports and Officials Theresia Wynns.

The IHSAA Executive Committee unanimously voted to name the Class 3A, 2A and 1A girls soccer awards for the woman who spent 15 years on the IHSAA Executive Staff prior to joining the NFHS in 2012.

A longtime Indiana tradition and one of the most prestigious honors a high school student-athlete can receive, a mental attitude award is annually presented to a senior participant in the state finals in each sport. The Executive Committee selects a student-athlete who was nominated by his or her principal and coach, and who is determined to have best demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability. The presenting sponsor in each sport also awards a $1,000 scholarship to the general scholarship fund of the student’s school.

In her role with the IHSAA (1997-2012), she administered the sports of girls and boys soccer in addition to girls basketball, and girls and boys tennis. She also managed the licensing of over 8,000 IHSAA officials, the IHSAA sportsmanship program and tournament merchandising.

A native of Easley, SC, Wynns is a 1966 graduate of Clear View High School in Easley and a 1970 graduate of South Carolina State University with a B.S. degree in health and physical education. She taught one year at Easley Junior High School before coming to Indianapolis in 1971. Wynns spent the next 26 years as a teacher and administrator in the Indianapolis Public Schools and Warren Township Schools. She officiated the girls basketball state championship games in 1977, 1981 and 1986. Wynns was named Indiana’s outstanding girls basketball official in 1983 by the IHSAA and the National Federation of Interscholastic Officials Association.