Polk County Public Schools
Lakeland’s Tenoroc High has won the Florida High School Athletic Association’s 2009-2010 Fred E. Rozelle Sportsmanship Award for high schools in Class 3A. The school will receive $3,000 for winning the award.
The Rozelle Award was implemented by the FHSAA to honor middle and high schools that exhibit exemplary sportsmanship during the regular season and postseason Each year, the award is presented to one school in each of seven classifications whose total sports program best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship by its coaches, players and spectators. Criteria for selection includes programs and activities implemented within the school and community to promote sportsmanship. The number and type of unsportsmanlike ejections are also considered. An anonymous selection committee of representatives from the athletics community reviews nominations and selects winners.
Tenoroc High opened during the 2008-2009 school year. In its two-year existence, the school has not had an ejection or suspension of a coach, player or spectator. Tenoroc High is located at 4905 Saddle Creek Road, midway between Auburndale and Lakeland.
There are 85 schools statewide in Class 3A with similar enrollment to Tenoroc. Tenoroc has approximately 1,300 students. The FHSAA is the governing body for interscholastic athletic competition and has a membership of more than 770 middle, junior and senior high schools.
The award is named for FHSAA Commissioner Emeritus Fred E. Rozelle, the association’s executive secretary and commissioner from 1980 to 1991.
The Polk Public Schools donated a total of $57,396.92 during the school year to the American Red Cross to assist earthquake victims in Haiti. A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, 2010.
Schools and sites were encouraged to do penny pitches, spare change collections, pass the bucket, place collection containers in common areas or use other fundraising methods.
The school district’s goal was $21,000, the equivalent of a dime from each student and $1 from each staff member.
Polk schools have approximately 90,000 students and 12,000 employees.
