Award nominations will be open until Monday, April 20

KUSA – The Buena Vista School District is now accepting nominations for the Johnsons’ All-Heart Award.  This award is for an assistant high school coach who is involved with kids both during sports, and outside of the season.  Buena Vista would like to recognize a coach who dedicates a lot of time and investment to developing successful young adults in honor of the Johnson family who lost three members in a rockslide.

“On September 30, 2013, the [Buena Vista] community lost three members of the Johnson family in a rockslide on Mt. Princeton,” Buena Vista High School head football coach Matt Flavin said.  “Dwayne, Dawna and Kiowa Johnson were taken from their family and our community; but their influence will live on and be remembered with this award.  Dwayne and Dawna were both assistant coaches in our school district, and played many other roles in the Buena Vista community.  The family made the best out of what they had and sacrificed many needs of their own to make sure our kids were taken care of.”

All assistant coaches qualify for this award, but only one coach and school will be honored.

Flavin describes the ideal candidate:
“The coach may or may not be a volunteer; he or she is always there when kids are in need.  A coach that may not have a lot, but will sacrifice his or her own needs to make sure all kids are equipped with whatever they may need to be successful.  Along with the time and energy that the assistant coach invests, we also want to recognize the sacrifice their family may endure during the time he or she is gone.”

Three top candidates will be chosen by a selection committee the last week in April, and a Johnson family representative will pick the winner.  The recipient of the award will be invited to enjoy a weekend at Mt. Princeton Resort in Buena Vista, Colo. with his or her family.  The family will be catered to by local businesses for all meals and activities.  “We want to provide a special weekend that the family may not ever get a chance to do because of time, money, or just the craziness of their lives.  We feel that this is a chance for all the people they have mentored to say, ‘Thank you for your selflessness.’  The award is also to honor the amount of “heart” the Johnson family poured into the Buena Vista athletic community and beyond,” Flavin explained.

The winner will be announced at the Buena Vista Athletic Awards Banquet on Sunday, May 17.  Both the winner, and his or her school, will receive a plaque at the banquet.  The family will also get other various gifts for the excursion.

The nomination forms have already been submitted to all coaches and schools in the state by Flavin.  You can also visit Buena Vista Demon Football Facebook page for more information.  If you know of an outstanding assistant coach who should be recognized, please email Matt Flavin (mattf@bvschools.org), and let him know you want to nominate someone for the Johnsons’ All-Heart Award.