Growth Mindset Award Winners
The Core Value of the Avalon Sky High Performance Training Program is Growth Mindset! Athletes that demonstrate a growth mindset through their commitment, perserverance, hard work, dedication, and departure from their comfort zone, will almost always reap the incredible benefits of these traits. The Growth Mindset Award is intended to reward athletes who epitomize a growth mindset, while assisting them with volleyball-related travel expenses!
2023-2024 Recipients
"Both of these athletes are a force to be reckoned with. Being great natural athletes isnt always good enough - they both strive to be the best versions of themselves. Hard work, commitment and dedication are qualities that shine bright in these athletes. Resilience is one of the best life skills that youth can develop; these resilient athletes use their inner strength to positively face challenges and to thrive, given their own unique characteristics and goals." - Club Coach Cassandra Kelly
Julia White
When Julia White sets a goal, be careful not to doubt her. After already increasing her vertical jump four inches in her first year of training, she set an incredibly high bar for her next level. Julia was the first athlete to decide to pick up a couple dumbbells while doing her high-hops. And yeah, she got to her next level. She's got so much more than height. She's got grit, determination, and an intense penchant for improvement. On top of this, her coachability is second-to-none. Always looking for feedback and opportunities to tweak her skills, Julia will undoubtedly continue to enhance her on-court and off-court skills throughout High School, which she's just entering in September of 2024! But wait, Julia is also a member of our community organization, the CBN Volleyball Club, where she was given the Sportsmanship Award, which is based solely on nominations from opposing teams! Her off-court presence is as significant as it is on-court (where she completely dominates at the net), with encouragement and support of all athletes in our local volleyball communities. As she enters Stage 5 (Mentorship) of our Elite Training Program, we are very much looking forward to seeing Julia bring her leadership skills to the next generation of athletes, and helping us to share and spread a Growth Mindset! Julia, Thank You for epitomizing a Growth Mindset, and Best Wishes with your travel this Summer!
Mary-Grace Slade
When Mary-Grace Slade puts her mind on something, she will work tirelessly to make it happen. Once exposed to our off-court Elite Training Program, she embraced the principles and ran with them. Taking on her own training regime, Mary-Grace is an absolute role model for what it means to get out what you put in! Very few athletes have shown the growth that Mary-Grace has demonstrated this past year, and this is a direct result of her work ethic! Add unparalleled coachability to the mix, and the formula for success is in place: Mary-Grace actively seeks feedback wherever possible, and implements every suggestion into her skill set! Embracing a switch from Left Side to Middle may have been her biggest move. She now sets the tone for her team's offense, and is a wall at the net! She has developed an incredible ability to read plays from the opposing team, and has also embraced the opportunity to impact her team's defense from the back row. As our program continues to work on its goal of community-building, Mary-Grace has a massively important role in growing the sport in her school and community, a region that is in the early stages of embracing the growth of our sport! Mary-Grace, Thank You for epitomizing a Growth Mindset, and Best Wishes with your travel this Summer!
