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PCA Minnesota 2019 Impact Awards Celebration

12.10.2019


Goooaaaal!

On November 17th, 2019, with the Minnesota United FC’s beautiful home – Allianz Field in St. Paul as the backdrop, Positive Coaching Alliance – Minnesota (PCA-MN) netted an exhilarating goal with its’ 2019 Impact Awards Celebration.

PCA-MN honored six high school student-athletes from around Minnesota & North Dakota as 2019 Triple-Impact Competitor® Scholarship Award recipients. 170 guests enjoyed an active social hour, an exceptional meal, an exciting sports memorabilia silent auction, Auctioneer Sam Smith led a competitive live auction of incredible local sports experiences, were motivated by a pair of local sports heroes and inspired by some phenomenal high school athletes.

This scholarship program awards high school athletes who exemplify the positive contributions of a Triple-Impact Competitor®, which includes making oneself better (personal mastery), making teammates better (leadership) and making the sport better (Honoring the game). From 100 local applicants and more than 3,500 applications nationwide, these six were selected based on personal essays and recommendations from coaches, school administrators, and teammates, familiar with attested to how they embody the Triple-Impact Competitor® principles. 2019 Triple-Impact Competitor® Scholarship Award recipients:

  • Eleanor Craig – Minneapolis Edison High School
  • Sydney Eckhoff – Henning High School
  • Emily Henderson – Jordan High School
  • Abigail Klaman – West Fargo (ND) High School
  • Jacob Kuemmel – Park High School (Cottage Grove)
  • Jackie Lynn Taflin – Clearbrook-Convick High School



The celebration also featured the honoring of a pair of Minnesota sports heroes.

Chris Wright, CEO – MNUFC (https://www.mnufc.com/post/2017/09/18/get-know-mnufc-ceo-chris-wright) received the esteemed PCA-MN Sports Business Executive of the Year Award. 

It’s important for young people to understand you need people around to help you. Who is on your personal board of directors? My challenge to you is can you pull on the “PCA jersey” and take it to the players, coaches, and neighborhoods and make it a little bit better of a place for these young athletes’ lives?

– Chris Wright

Coach Larry McKenzie), Head Boys Basketball Coach – Minneapolis North High School (http://coachmckenzie.com/) received the prestigious PCA-MN Community Impact Award.

I teach my kids that basketball is so much more than a game. It is a microcosm of life. You have a responsibility to leave this earth better than you found it.

– Coach McKenzie

A guest, Anna who learned of PCA-MN for the first time that evening, summed up the impact of the event, “What a fun celebration!” she said. “I had goose-bumps the entire evening hearing from all of the award winners and speakers. I am so impressed and motivated to hear about PCA’s mission, impact and reason for existence. The work they are doing is so needed, and so appreciated.” 

Click here for more photos of the event!