Daniela Ponte Article
Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 3:57 pm
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?news ... 8976&rfi=6
Poignant Essay Helps Athlete From Torrington Win Award
By: John Torsiello
11/18/2004
TORRINGTON-Daniela Ponte, a 17-year-old senior at Torrington High School, is getting used to accolades.
After all, Ms. Ponte is a top student and outstanding athlete who holds the state record in the girls pole vault and has earned All-New England honors in the event for the past two years. But receiving notification recently that she is the state's female winner in the Wendy's High School Heisman Award program was special for reasons that go beyond the playing field.
Part of the application process for the award program, sponsored by Wendy's restaurants and the National Association of Secondary School Principals, involves an essay describing how the applicant had faced down a problem in his or her life.
"I had to write the essay in a short amount of time, but it came pretty easy to me," said Ms. Ponte, who lost her uncle, noted Torrington businessman and Harwinton resident John Ponte, to a fatal heart attack this past summer. "I wrote about losing my uncle and how my friends and family got me through it."
Ms. Ponte was also recognized for her academic standing-she is among the top 10 in the senior class-and for extracurricular activities and community service. In addition to competing in indoor and outdoor track and field, she was a member of the high school's girls soccer team and competed in cross-country and basketball prior to turning her attention to track and field and soccer.
"I have refereed for youth sports leagues and been a part of church groups that have gone to retirement homes," said Ms. Ponte, who is leaning toward an Ivy League college education, possibly at Brown University in Providence, R.I. "My dance class also dances every year at the soup kitchen and at elderly housing. I really like working with the elderly and the very young kids."
Ms. Ponte called winning the Wendy's Heisman award "great," adding, "It's one of the nicer awards that I have gotten because it involves so many different things, and because I wrote about my uncle." John Ponte was also her godfather.
Newell Porch, the high school's athletic director, called Ms. Ponte "a hard worker, great athlete and a tremendous person." He said her selection as a Wendy's Heisman winner-school administrators nominate candidates-was a significant accomplishment for the school and Torrington, as well as a personal achievement for Ms. Ponte.
She is the second Torrington High School student to win the state's top female award. Last year, Christine Strawson was accorded the honor. David Nole, another Torrington student, was also a state finalist this year. John Lamonaca of Middletown's Xavier High School is the 2004 Connecticut winner among young men.
Ms. Ponte is to join other Northeast Region (New England and New York State) winners at the Wendy's High School Heisman Northeast Regional Awards Dinner on Thursday. Of the 14 Northeast Region finalists, two will go on to compete for the national title in New York City Dec. 10 through 12. The national winners will be announced at that time and the selection ceremony will air on ESPN2 Dec. 14.
Close to 15,000 students were nominated nationally, with that number narrowed down to 10 male and 10 female finalists per state, as well as the District of Columbia.
Poignant Essay Helps Athlete From Torrington Win Award
By: John Torsiello
11/18/2004
TORRINGTON-Daniela Ponte, a 17-year-old senior at Torrington High School, is getting used to accolades.
After all, Ms. Ponte is a top student and outstanding athlete who holds the state record in the girls pole vault and has earned All-New England honors in the event for the past two years. But receiving notification recently that she is the state's female winner in the Wendy's High School Heisman Award program was special for reasons that go beyond the playing field.
Part of the application process for the award program, sponsored by Wendy's restaurants and the National Association of Secondary School Principals, involves an essay describing how the applicant had faced down a problem in his or her life.
"I had to write the essay in a short amount of time, but it came pretty easy to me," said Ms. Ponte, who lost her uncle, noted Torrington businessman and Harwinton resident John Ponte, to a fatal heart attack this past summer. "I wrote about losing my uncle and how my friends and family got me through it."
Ms. Ponte was also recognized for her academic standing-she is among the top 10 in the senior class-and for extracurricular activities and community service. In addition to competing in indoor and outdoor track and field, she was a member of the high school's girls soccer team and competed in cross-country and basketball prior to turning her attention to track and field and soccer.
"I have refereed for youth sports leagues and been a part of church groups that have gone to retirement homes," said Ms. Ponte, who is leaning toward an Ivy League college education, possibly at Brown University in Providence, R.I. "My dance class also dances every year at the soup kitchen and at elderly housing. I really like working with the elderly and the very young kids."
Ms. Ponte called winning the Wendy's Heisman award "great," adding, "It's one of the nicer awards that I have gotten because it involves so many different things, and because I wrote about my uncle." John Ponte was also her godfather.
Newell Porch, the high school's athletic director, called Ms. Ponte "a hard worker, great athlete and a tremendous person." He said her selection as a Wendy's Heisman winner-school administrators nominate candidates-was a significant accomplishment for the school and Torrington, as well as a personal achievement for Ms. Ponte.
She is the second Torrington High School student to win the state's top female award. Last year, Christine Strawson was accorded the honor. David Nole, another Torrington student, was also a state finalist this year. John Lamonaca of Middletown's Xavier High School is the 2004 Connecticut winner among young men.
Ms. Ponte is to join other Northeast Region (New England and New York State) winners at the Wendy's High School Heisman Northeast Regional Awards Dinner on Thursday. Of the 14 Northeast Region finalists, two will go on to compete for the national title in New York City Dec. 10 through 12. The national winners will be announced at that time and the selection ceremony will air on ESPN2 Dec. 14.
Close to 15,000 students were nominated nationally, with that number narrowed down to 10 male and 10 female finalists per state, as well as the District of Columbia.