DeKalb County Silver Streaks coach Delton Schoates (right) was named one of two Outstanding Coaches of the Year for his work with the Silver Streaks in 2022. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The American Association of Adapted Sports Programs held its fourth annual ASPIRE Awards to honor those who contribute and compete in AAASP programs for the 2022 school year on Sunday, October 23 at Maggiano’s in Buckhead.
The DeKalb County School District was well represented with six nominees including two award winners during the evening’s festivities which honored 47 nominees and 20 award winners.
DeKalb Silver Streaks coach Delton Schoates was one of two honorees in the Coach of the Year category. Schoates coaches the Silver Streaks in handball, basketball and football along with his brother, Everette Schoates (Leadership Award nominee). Delton has been involved with the AAASP programs since his mother was a coach and continued the family tradition with his brother.
DeKalb’s Najee Smothers (9) was award the AAASP Aspire Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year for 2022. (Courtesy photo)
Najee Smothers received the Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year Award for his play during the 2022 school year. He recently scored all 16 points in a Silver Streaks victory. Smothers was not present on Sunday as he was playing a game during halftime of the Atlanta Hawks game.
Corey Swain was nominated for the High School Senior Athlete Award along with four others. The award went to Zoey Schied of the Muscogee County Lions program.
The Silver Streaks were nominated for the School-Based Program Award. This award was given to the Clayton County Schools program for all their hard work.
DeKalb County School District Athletic Specialist (Media Relations) Mark Brock was one of two nominated for their promotion and advocacy of AAASP as a Media Hero. Marvin James of Macon’s WMAZ Channel 13 received the award.
DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NOMINEES
• Delton Schoates, Coach of The Year Award, DeKalb Silver Streaks
• Corey Swain, High School Senior Athlete Award, DeKalb Silver Streaks
• Everette Schoates, Leadership Award
• Mark Brock, Media “Hero” Award, DeKalb
• Najee Smothers, Outstanding Male Athlete of The Year Award, DeKalb Silver Streaks
• DeKalb County Silver Streaks, School-Based Program Award
ADVOCACY AWARD
• Jeff Battles, Advocacy Award, Muscogee Lions
• Senator Kim Jackson, Advocacy Award, State of GA
COACH OF THE YEAR
• Anna Henry, Coach of The Year Award, Houston County Sharks
• Delton Schoates, Coach of The Year Award, DeKalb Silver Streaks*
COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM
• Kids Mobility Network, Community-Based Program Award, Colorado
GAIL HENDRICK VOLUNTEERISM AWARD
• Marlana Butler, Gail Hendrick Volunteerism Award, Gwinnett Heat
• Michael Davis, Gail Hendrick Volunteerism Award, Clayton Eagles
• Nicholas Griffin, Gail Hendrick Volunteerism Award, West GA Wolverines
• Christa Hartman, Gail Hendrick Volunteerism Award, Houston County Sharks
LESLIE SWEATMAN OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR
• Leon Porter*, Leslie Sweatman Official of The Year Award (*posthumously), All teams
MEDIA HERO AWARD
• Marvin James, Media “Hero” Award, WMAZ Channel 13
OUTSTANDING HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR AWARD
• Zoey Schied, High School Senior Athlete Award, Muscogee Lions, Muscogee County Schools
OUTSTANDING FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
• Elianna Stevens, Outstanding Female Athlete of The Year Award, Houston County Sharks
OUTSTANDING MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
• Najee Smothers, Outstanding Male Athlete of The Year Award, DeKalb Silver Streaks*
OUTSTANDING SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAM
• Clayton County Eagles, School-Based Program Award
FOUNDERS AWARDS
AAASP honored the following special people with the American Association of Adapted Sports Programs’ Founders Awards as well:
• Mike Emery, former Gwinnett County Public Schools Athletic and Activities Director
• Harlon Matthews, Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, Henry County Parks and Recreation
• Ernie Yarbrough, Assistant Executive Director of the Georgia High School Association, and longtime AAASP supporter
• Carol McCullough, Richmond County Schools retired teacher and AAASP Area Coordinator
• Janie Thompson-Avant, retired Gwinnett County Public Schools teacher to special needs populations, former Paralympic coach and founder of the Atlanta Disabled Sports Foundation.