1

The National Federation of State High School Associa-tions created National High School Activities Week in 1980 to increase the public’s awareness of the values and needs of interscholastic activity programs. How-ever, there was a need to celebrate the contributions and benefits young people experience by participa-tion in sports and performingarts for an entire month.

Hence, Activities Week has transformed into Activi-ties Month. During this special time, the nation’s high schools are encouraged to promote the values inher-ent in high school athletics and other activities such as speech, music, theatre and band. National High School Activities Month is an opportunity to remind the public that already in place in every community is a comprehensive program addressing society’s most current concerns, by:

•Finding and nurturing the best effort of each young participant;

•Encouraging students to stay in school, perform bet-ter academically and become better citizens;

•Demanding respect for fair play and appreciation for the equitable application of procedures, rules and regulations;

•Providing healthy lifestyle instruction;

•Challenging racism, sexism and classism through the active pursuit of teamwork and school spirit.

“High school sports and activity programs provide one of the best bargains in our community and nation and will continue to do so as long as our nation supports them as an integral part of the education of our young people,” said Bob Gardner, Executive Director of the National Federation of State High School Associations. “Not only do these programs teach the more than 11 million young people who participate in them valu-able life skills lessons, such as ethics, integrity and healthy lifestyles, they also provide the best entertain-ment value in our nation.

“We have fundamental, empirical evidence that inter-scholastic activities provide a successful way in which to create healthy and successful citizens.

“Through National High School Activities Month, we have an opportunity to reflect on our participation as well as the participation of our children. Our nation must continue to support these programs and the life skills they provide America’s youth.”

High School Activities Month:

October 2012NFHS www.nfhs.org

National Sportsmanship and Fan Appreciation Week October 1-6National Performing Arts Activities WeekOctober 8-13National Coaches/Sponsors/Advisors/Officials Week October 15-20National Community Service/Youth Awareness WeekOctober 22-27

National High School Activities Month: October 2012

www.ahsaa.org

October 2012

State Farm Insurance is the sponsor of AAA championship awards.

Bulletin

Baseball Ruling – NFHS Decertifies Reebok Bat

Effective immediately and until further notice, this bat (Reebok Vector TLS 32” length) should be con-sidered a non-compliant bat and subject to NFHS Baseball Rules 4-1-3b and 7-4-1a.

If you have any questions, please feel free to con-tract B. Elliot Hopkins, NFHS Baseball Rules Editor/National Interpreter at ehopkins@nfhs.

2

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFFLance W. Taylor, Executive DirectorDr. Joey WaltersDon BrodellNick LaskerAnnette SavageAmber BalboaWadie MooreSUPPORT STAFFKristy ClarkNicole CunninghamGabriel FormanJulia HarveyTeresa Marlow Jennifer Mays

BOARD OF DIRECTORSJoe Couch, BergmanPresidentBobby Acklin, North Little Rock1st Vice-PresidentHoward Morris, Riverview2nd Vice-PresidentRick McLaughlin, HS LakesideSecretaryMicky Pierce, East Poinsett CountyTreasurer

Max Adcock, Mineral SpringsSuzanne Bailey, LonokeWesley Berry, West Memphis

John Ciesla, GreenwoodCarl Easley, WynneThomas Gathen, McGeheeNathan Gills, Glen RoseKelvin Gragg, Dermott Steve Green, Cave CityGary Hines, Emerson-TaylorBryan Law, FarmingtonJimmy D. Loyd, Two RiversAlbert Murphy, Genoa CentralJerry Newton, Poyen

AAA Board and Staff

High School Sports Participation Achieves All-time High INDIANAPOLIS – Boosted by continued growth in several girls sports, participation in high school sports increased for the 23rd consecutive year in 2011-12, according to the annual High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

Based on figures from the 51 NFHS-member state high school athletic/activity associations, which includes the District of Columbia, sports participation for the 2011-12 school year reached an all-time high of 7,692,520 participants – an in-crease of 24,565 from the previous year.

“In this time of ever-increasing financial challenges in our nation’s high schools, we are greatly encouraged to know that participation in high school sports continues to rise,” said Bob Gardner, NFHS executive director. “With more than 55 percent of students enrolled in high schools participating in athletics, the value of these programs in an education-based setting continues to be significant.”

An additional 33,984 girls participated in high school sports last year, making the all-time record total 3,207,533. This also marks the 23rd consecutive year for an increase in the num-ber of female participants. Outdoor track and field (468,747), basketball (435,885) and volleyball (418,903) continued to be the top three participatory sports for girls, with volleyball up 9,571 participants from 2010-11.

Soccer (370,975) surpassed fast-pitch softball (367,023) as the fourth most-popular girls sport, up 9,419 from last year, while cross country (212,262), tennis (180,870), swimming and div-ing (160,456), competitive spirit squads (108,307) and lacrosse (74,993) completed the top 10. Along with soccer and volley-ball, cross country, competitive spirit squads and lacrosse all had increased participation from 2010-11.

While girls participation continued to climb, boys participa-tion figures dipped for the first time since the 1992-93 school year, down 9,419 from last year’s number of 4,494,406 to 4,484,987. Seven of the top 10 boys sports registered drops in participation, with 11-player football (1,095,993), outdoor

track and field (575,628), basketball (535,289), wrestling (272,149), tennis (159,800), golf (152,725) and swimming and diving (133,823) all down from last year. Baseball (474,219), soccer (411,757) and cross country (248,494) all had increases from the previous year, with soccer registering the largest increase of 13,406.

Lacrosse, which ranks No. 11 in participation among boys sports, topped the 100,000 mark (100,641) with about 5,000 additional participants. Wrestling continued its rise in popu-larity among girls, with almost 1,000 additional participants up to 8,235.

Participants by state stayed true to last year’s order, as Texas and California once again topped the list with 808,806 and 781,912, respectively, followed by New York (389,475), Illinois (346,896), Ohio (333,349), Pennsylvania (317,869), Michigan (308,080), New Jersey (259,219), Florida (257,282) and Minne-sota (238,363). Twenty states registered increases in participa-tion in 2011-12.

The participation survey has been compiled since 1971 by the NFHS through numbers it receives from its member associa-tions. The complete 2011-12 High School Athletics Participa-tion Survey is available on the NFHS Web site at www.nfhs.org.

Arkansas Activities Association3920 Richards Rd.North Little Rock, Ar 72117501-955-2500 www.ahsaa.org

Dr. Greg Murry

3

CONWAY – Dr. Greg Murry, Superintendent of Conway School District, was presented with the 2013 Arkansas Superin-tendent of the Year Award on September 16th during the dedication here of a new high school. Dr. Richard Abernathy, Executive Director for the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators (AAEA), surprised Dr. Murry, and presented him with the award.

The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) National Superin-tendent of the Year program, sponsored by ARAMARK Education, ING and AASA, pays tribute to the talent and vision of the men and women who lead the nation’s public schools. Candidates are judged on the following criteria: leadership for learning, communication, professional-ism, and community involvement. Each

state association of school administrators selects a State Superintendent of the Year. These superinten-dents are then in the running for National Superintendent of the Year and will be recognized and honored at the AASA National Conference on Education in February in Los Angeles, California.

Dr. Murry has been the superintendent of the Conway School District since 2007. He was the assistant superintendent for Business Affairs in the Springdale School District from 1998-2007. He also served that district as principal and assistant principal from 1992-1998. He served as the principal/assistant principal in the Ashdown School District from 1989-1992.

AAEA Executive Director Dr. Richard Abernathy noted, “I have known Dr. Murry for many years, and he has always displayed the leadership and personal qualities you look for in a superin-tendent.”

Dr. Benny Gooden, Superintendent, Fort Smith School District, and President, American Association of School Administra-tors, stated, “Greg Murry has earned the respect of his fellow administrators and other educators in Arkansas. He is a leader in the continuing action of the Arkansas Association of School Administrators in every area – especially in advocacy before the Arkansas General Assembly when educational issues are being debated.”

Each year the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame will award two $1,000 scholarships to Arkansas High School seniors who will be enrolling in an Arkansas college. The two scholarships will be awarded to one boy and one girl. The scholarship funds will be paid directly to the college. All decisions of the ASHOF are final.

The criteria for eligibility are:

1. Must be a graduating senior from an Arkansas high school (AAA member) this school year (2012-2013).

2. Must be attending an Arkansas college or junior college (public or private) as a freshman the following school year (Fall 2013).

3. Must submit an essay to the ASHOF for evaluation.

4. Applications must be postmarked by December 1, 2012.

To apply for a scholarship, please submit an essay as to how sports made a positive impact on your life. You do not neces-sarily have to have been a participant in sports. You just have to have been affected by athletics in some way and are able to write a short narrative about it.

Essays should be no longer than the front of one page (single spaced). No cover page is needed. Any essay longer than one

page will not be accepted. Essay must be typed to be consid-ered. Please sign and date your essay.

At the top of the page, please include your name, address, phone number, gender, high school, high school counselor and the college you plan to attend.

You can fax your applications to 501-978-1645 or mail to:

Arkansas Sports Hall of FameAttn: Scholarships#3 Verizon Arena WayNorth Little Rock, AR 72214

Scholarship Offers

For additional information on scholarships, please go to www.ashaa.org. Click on Schools, then Scholarships.Scroll down Important Documents to review the scholarships available.Scholarships listed:1. Interscholastic Star2. State Farm Insurance3. Mandy Coats Memorial4. Carneal Jones Memorial

Conway’s Dr. Murry Named Superintendent of the Year

Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame Scholarship Program

Corporate Sponsors

4