FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, D.C. – Brooklyn, New York dance coach Nekia “Nikki” Wise has been named a Coach of the Year as the second-place winner of the national Play it Forward contest. Sponsored by Up2Us, the leading national coalition of youth sports organizations, and Youth Noise, a social networking website for young people, the Play it Forward contest invited current and former youth athletes to nominate coaches who have had an effect on their lives. Entries were posted at: http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/playitforward and winners were voted on and selected online.
Nikki Wise was nominated by Tianna Brown, who was one of Nikki’s dancers for nearly a decade. “When I met Nikki I was on the road to destruction,” Tianna Brown said. “I was using drugs, skipping school every other day, getting into fights and hanging out with the wrong crowd just because I didn’t have a decent role model. After being under Nikki’s wing for ten years, my life has drastically changed. I went on to graduate from college and I’m currently an accountant.”
As a coach, Nikki has many impressive accomplishments. Her dance team, Fully Focused, recently won Grand Prize in the 2009 “Step It Up” competition. Her dancers have performed on many top-tier New York stages, including the Apollo, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden and others.
Just as important as the dance skills Nikki teaches her girls are the life skills and values they learn from her, including recognizing self worth, boosting self esteem, and women’s empowerment. As a public school teacher with an undergraduate degree in early childhood education and a Master’s degree in literacy education, Nikki knows the vital importance of education, something she constantly emphasizes to her young dancers.
“I am honored to be recognized as a Coach of the Year, and to realize what an impact I have had on the lives of the girls that I have worked with,” said Nikki Wise. “"Dancing is just the beginning. It's kind of like what I use to draw them in. Then, it evolves into so much more -lessons in social and academic life progress!"
“The winners of the Coach of the Year contest are not only great coaches, but, like Nikki Wise, are mentors and leaders who are dedicated to improving their players’ lives and performances both on and off the dance floor and the field,” said Paul Caccamo, Executive Director of Up2Us.
Nikki will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Washington D.C. to attend the Up2Us National Conference on Sports-Based Youth Development on October 22 and 23. The first of its kind conference will be attended by youth sports leaders from across the US. Nikki will be honored at a special reception, and will receive an award from professional tennis player Monica Seles and Olympic gold medalist and track and field star Edwin Moses.
To view information on Nikki Wise and the other winners of the contest visit: http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/playitforward.
Brooklyn Dance Coach Named A Coach of the Year
Nekia “Nikki” Wise Honored in National “Play it Forward” Contest
Nekia “Nikki” Wise Honored in National “Play it Forward” Contest
Washington, D.C. – Brooklyn, New York dance coach Nekia “Nikki” Wise has been named a Coach of the Year as the second-place winner of the national Play it Forward contest. Sponsored by Up2Us, the leading national coalition of youth sports organizations, and Youth Noise, a social networking website for young people, the Play it Forward contest invited current and former youth athletes to nominate coaches who have had an effect on their lives. Entries were posted at: http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/playitforward and winners were voted on and selected online.
Nikki Wise was nominated by Tianna Brown, who was one of Nikki’s dancers for nearly a decade. “When I met Nikki I was on the road to destruction,” Tianna Brown said. “I was using drugs, skipping school every other day, getting into fights and hanging out with the wrong crowd just because I didn’t have a decent role model. After being under Nikki’s wing for ten years, my life has drastically changed. I went on to graduate from college and I’m currently an accountant.”
As a coach, Nikki has many impressive accomplishments. Her dance team, Fully Focused, recently won Grand Prize in the 2009 “Step It Up” competition. Her dancers have performed on many top-tier New York stages, including the Apollo, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden and others.
Just as important as the dance skills Nikki teaches her girls are the life skills and values they learn from her, including recognizing self worth, boosting self esteem, and women’s empowerment. As a public school teacher with an undergraduate degree in early childhood education and a Master’s degree in literacy education, Nikki knows the vital importance of education, something she constantly emphasizes to her young dancers.
“I am honored to be recognized as a Coach of the Year, and to realize what an impact I have had on the lives of the girls that I have worked with,” said Nikki Wise. “"Dancing is just the beginning. It's kind of like what I use to draw them in. Then, it evolves into so much more -lessons in social and academic life progress!"
“The winners of the Coach of the Year contest are not only great coaches, but, like Nikki Wise, are mentors and leaders who are dedicated to improving their players’ lives and performances both on and off the dance floor and the field,” said Paul Caccamo, Executive Director of Up2Us.
Nikki will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Washington D.C. to attend the Up2Us National Conference on Sports-Based Youth Development on October 22 and 23. The first of its kind conference will be attended by youth sports leaders from across the US. Nikki will be honored at a special reception, and will receive an award from professional tennis player Monica Seles and Olympic gold medalist and track and field star Edwin Moses.
To view information on Nikki Wise and the other winners of the contest visit: http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/playitforward.
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