Atlanta, GA (April 2, 2025) – Nominations are now open for the Seventh Annual ASPIRE Awards, hosted by the American Association of Adapted Sports Programs, Inc. (AAASP). This awards celebration, emceed by actor, writer, and television personality Patrick Cusick will take place on Sunday, October 26, 2025 at Maggiano’s Little Italy, in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Adapted Sports Programs in Recreation and Education (ASPIRE) Awards recognize individuals and organizations making a profound impact on adapted sports, helping student athletes with physical disabilities experience the physical, social, emotional, and academic benefits of competitive athletics.
The 2025 ASPIRE Awards link is now open to nominate your hero in one of the following categories:
ADULT AWARDS
Coach of the Year Award - (Varsity and JV) Programs of the Year Awards
--Community-Based Award (non-AAASP organizations)
--Education-Based Award (AdaptED Sports League Districts and Teams Only)
Eli Wolff Advocacy Award
Gail Hendrick Champion of Support Award
Leslie Sweatman Official of the Year Award
Media Hero Award
Vaughn-Storms Founder’s Award
STUDENT AWARDS
Athlete of the Year Award (Varsity and JV)
-- Wheelchair Basketball Athlete of the Year - Varsity Male and Female, and Junior Varsity Male or Female
-- Wheelchair Handball Athlete of the Year - Varsity Male and Female; and Junior Varsity Male or Female
-- Wheelchair Football Athletes of the Year - Varsity Male and Female; and Junior Varsity Male or Female
Powerchair Athlete of the Year (Varsity and JV)
(implemented only in years with minimum of 3 or more power chair users)
High School Senior Athlete Award
--High School Senior Athlete Award - Senior Male and Senior Female
Most Improved Athlete Award - (Varsity and JV)
Scholar Athlete of the Year Award - (Varsity only)
The Spirit of AAASP Sportsmanship Award
Nominate someone today! Visit 2025 AAASP ASPIRE Awards - American Association of Adapted Sports Programs® for details. Ticket information will be available this summer.
A special thank you to our AAASP ASPIRE Awards Sponsors for helping us shine the light on those making strides in adapted sports: the Georgia Department of Education, the State of Georgia, the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS), the Georgia High School Association, Eagle Sportschairs, History Associates, StoryDrive.com, Good Media Ideas, Disability Connections, Stout Creative, The Ink Spot, and the AAASP Board of Directors.
The American Association of Adapted Sports Programs (AAASP), headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a nonprofit dedicated to developing interscholastic adapted sports programs nationwide, in partnership with national, state, and local educational agencies. Since 1996, AAASP has built one of the nation’s most comprehensive school-based athletic program for students with physical disabilities. For more information, please visit our website at http://adaptedsports.org or join our conversations on Twitter at: @AdaptedSports.
