Outstanding Amateur Athlete to Be Named at NYC Ceremony

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. – (March 14, 2012) – The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) today announced that six finalists have been named for the 2011 James E. Sullivan Award, which honors the nation’s outstanding amateur athlete. The Sullivan Award has been presented annually since 1930, and is based on character, leadership and sportsmanship. Notable recipients of the AAU Sullivan Award include: Mark Spitz, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Florence Joyner, Peyton Manning, Michael Phelps, J.J. Redick, Tim Tebow, and Shawn Johnson.

“I am extremely proud of the 2011 slate of nominees for the highest honor the AAU bestows—The AAU James E. Sullivan Award,” said Louis Stout, President of the AAU. “These young women and men are the best and the brightest among the hundreds of thousands of amateur athletes who are pursuing their dreams. Not just on the court, the field, the ice, the water or in the gym, these outstanding athletes demonstrate character and leadership in their communities as well. I look forward to meeting them all next week and congratulating them on their achievements.”

The finalists were selected from personal nominations following a review by the AAU Sullivan Award Executive Committee.  The winner has been determined through voting by select members of the media, previous winners and AAU staff. The public was also allowed input through nationwide polling on the USA Today website.  The winner will be honored at an awards ceremony on Tuesday, March 20th at the prestigious New York Athletic Club.

Finalists for the 2011 James E. Sullivan Award from the AAU:

Jillian Camarena-Williams

USA Track & Field

Hometown: Tucson, Arizona

Jillian Camarena-Williams set an American record and won a bronze medal at the 2011 World Championships, which was the first-ever medal by an American woman shot putter at any world championship. Outside of track and field, she has coached athletes in the Special Olympics and helped build homes with Habitat for Humanity.

Alex Jupiter

USC Volleyball

Hometown: Paris, France (resides in California)

Named the 2011 Pac-12 Conference Player of the Year, Alex Jupiter is the first Southern Cal player in school history to earn the AVCA National Player of the Year award.

Jason Read

US Rowing, Temple University

Hometown: Ringoes, New Jersey

Jason Read is an Olympic Gold Medalist and has been rowing for the United States since 1995. Read is a rowing coach, volunteer firefighter and an EMT, and was recognized for his 9/11 rescue work at Ground Zero.

Katherine Reutter

USA Speekskating

Hometown: Champaign, Illinois

Katherine Reutter won 13 medals during the 2010-11 World Cup season, and was the 1,500-meter world champion in 2011.  The first American woman to win an individual and overall World Cup title, Reutter also won silver and bronze medals at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. She visits schools to promote short track speedskating and encourages kids to get involved and be more active.  Reutter has also volunteered her time with Habitat for Humanity.

Andrew Rodriguez

Army Football

Hometown: Alexandria, Virginia

Army linebacker Andrew Rodriguez carries a 4.14 GPA as a mechanical engineering major, and is ranked third academically in a class of 1,052 cadets.  He has made the dean’s list five times and has six terms with a GPA of 4.0 or higher, earning the coveted Campbell Award for academic achievement. Despite missing the 2010 season due to an injury, Rodriguez returned in 2011 as a captain and had 140 tackles in 23 games.

Jordyn Wieber

USA Gymnastics

Hometown: DeWitt, Michigan

In 2011, Jordyn Wieber won the women’s all-around at the World Championships and led the USA to a team gold medal. She also won the all-around at the 2011 American Cup and Visa Championships. In her community, Wieber volunteers at her church and at a local hospital, and participates in various community fundraisers.

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The AAU Sullivan Committee is proud to announce the 2011 AAU Sullivan Award Semi-finalists. The Committee has selected nine outstanding athletes who give it their all throughout his/her overall lifestyle. They have talent, leadership, character and sportsmanship; they have what it takes to be America’s top amateur athlete. Learn more about these individuals through his/her biographies below.

The voting is now closed for the AAU Sullivan Award. Top five finalists will be announced soon.

The finalists will be honored at an awards ceremony on Tuesday, March 20th at the prestigious New York Athletic Club.

Notable recipients of the AAU Sullivan Award include: Mark Spitz, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Florence Joyner, Peyton Manning, Michael Phelps, J.J. Redick, Tim Tebow, and Shawn Johnson.

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Get to know the AAU Sullivan semifinalists.

Name: Betsey Armstrong Sport: Water Polo Hometown: Huntington Beach, CA Biography	Name: David Boudia Sport: Diving Hometown: Noblesville, IN Biography
Name: Jillian Camarena-Williams Sport: Shot Put Hometown: Tucson, AZ Biography	Name: Kaliya Johnson Sport: Ice Hockey Hometown: Chandler, AZ Biography
Name: Alex Jupiter Sport: Volleyball Hometown: Paris, France Biography	Name: Jason Read Sport: Rowing Hometown: Ringoes, NJ Biography
Name: Katherine Reutter Sport: Speedskating Hometown: Champaign, IL Biography	Name: Andrew Rodriguez Sport: Football Hometown: Alexandria, VA Biography
Name: Jordyn Wieber Sport: Gymnastics Hometown: DeWitt, MI Biography