Seventeen individuals and one team that distinguished themselves by their actions have been selected section recipients of the 2014 National High School Spirit of Sport Award and the 2014 National High School Heart of the Arts Award. This year marks the first time that the Heart of the Arts Award has been offered.

From that group, Zach Pickett of Shingle Springs (California) Ponderosa High School and Leia Schwartz of Miami (Florida) Coral Reef High School were selected national recipients of the Spirit of Spirit Award and the Heart of the Arts Award, respectively.

Pickett and Schwartz will receive their awards June 29 at the NFHS Summer Meeting’s Opening General Session, while the section award recipients will be recognized within their respective states before the end of the current school year.

Below are synopses of the award recipients:

National High School Spirit of Sport Award

Section 1 ‑ Isaac Lufkin, a kicker on the Providence (Rhode Island) Classical High School freshman football team who was born without arms, helped lead the Purples to an undefeated season and to the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Division II state title.

Section 2 ‑ Mackenzie Guilford, a cross country runner at Defiance (Ohio) Ayersville High School, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at 16 months. Despite that health challenge, Guilford ranks first in her class, is a four-year letter-winner in cross country, and is highly involved in community service.

Section 3 ‑ Scott Hamilton, the head football coach at Dallas (Georgia) Paulding County High School who has lifted the struggling program to steady improvement, implemented “The Player of the Day” program in which each week a different special needs student is chosen to become part of the team.

Section 4 ‑ Springfield (Illinois) Sacred Heart-Griffin High School selflessly came to the assistance of rival high school Washington Community High School when an EF-4 tornado ripped through the community, leveling more than 1,200 homes and causing more than $6 million of damage.

Section 5 ‑ Nick Lawson, a multi-sport-athlete at Plankinton (South Dakota) High School who suffered serious injuries when he was accidentally shot in the chest at point-blank range, amazed the medical community when he was able to return to participation in sports in a relatively short period of time.

Section 6 ‑ When El Paso (Texas) Coronado High School boys basketball manager Mitchell Marcus (who has a mental disability) was put into the El Paso (Texas) Franklin High School game, Franklin’s Jonathon Montanez passed Marcus the ball, which enabled him to score just before the final buzzer.

Section 7 ‑ Zach Pickett, a talented water polo player at Shingle Springs (California) Ponderosa High School who became paralyzed from the chest down in a diving accident, has returned to the sport and has excelled in the classroom. Pickett was also selected the national recipient of the “National High School Spirit of Sport Award”

Section 8 ‑ Dillon Gilpin, a student-athlete at Evanston (Wyoming) High School who was born with one arm, participates in cross country, basketball and track. A self-starter and a leader, Gilpin is an all-conference cross country runner, was voted team captain, and is considered to be one of the top junior runners in the state.

National High School Heart of the Arts Award

Section 1 ‑ Derrick Hopkins and Jennifer Moore have distinguished themselves through their accomplishments at Willsboro (New York) Central School. Hopkins created and built the theatre program into one of the state’s best, while Moore transformed a needy music program into one envied by other high schools.

Section 2 ‑ Abby Leonard, a standout student at Gate City (Virginia) High School with a 3.9 grade-point average, has excelled in theatre, forensic, marching band and wind ensemble despite certain limiting factors. For example, since the school has no auditorium, Leonard compensates by working on the stage in the gym.

Section 3 ‑ Despite almost dying from a collapsed lung at age six and dealing with medical issues her entire life, Leia Schwartz of Miami (Florida) Coral Reef High School has excelled in the performing arts, athletics and academics. Schwartz was also selected the national recipient of the “National High School Heart of the Arts Award”

Section 4 ‑ Lydia Dawley, a performing arts student at Decorah (Iowa) High School who is afflicted with cerebral palsy, is confined to a wheelchair and speaks through a device that is attached to it. Despite those challenges, Dawley is an outstanding student who is an outspoken advocate for people with disabilities.

Section 5 ‑ Along with teaching and directing, one of Rapid City (South Dakota) Central High School theater department director Justin Speck’s greatest accomplishments was the formation of Advocates for Creative Theatre Students – a parent and community support network for the department.

Section 6 ‑ Frank Sferra, the speech coach at Denver (Colorado) Mullen High School for the past 57 years, has distinguished himself at the local, state and national levels. Long recognized as the pre-eminent speech coach in the country, Sferra was inducted into the NFHS’ National High School Hall of Fame in 2003.

Section 7 ‑ Clin Eaton, the theater director at Riverton (Utah) High School since it first opened its doors in August 2000, has distinguished himself in many capacities. Along with producing numerous plays and musicals, and possessing an innate ability to bring out the best in his students, Eaton developed an exemplary theater program.

Section 8 ‑ Despite being blind since birth, Aubrie Lucas of Anchorage (Alaska) Dimond High School has reached her dream of becoming an outstanding flute player. Named to the all-state band all four years of high school, Lucas is consistently among the top flute players at both the region and state levels.