The Anna and John J. Sie Foundation and The John Lynch Foundation announced the winners of the Exceptional Star of the Year Awards at the John Lynch Salute the Stars awards luncheon on May 7, 2008 at Invesco Field. Emma Wright, 11, from Frederick , Colorado and Kacey Beightol, 20, from Superior, Colorado have been selected to each receive an award of $5000.

The Exceptional Star of the Year Awards are specific to public school students who have overcome challenges associated with physical and/or developmental disabilities to participate in sports, academics and their community.

Emma is a student at Frederick Elementary. She was born with Cerebral Palsy and has difficulty walking and with balance, but she hasn't let that stop her. She has played soccer for three years now in the Arvada Edge Soccer Club through a National Sports Center for the Disabled program. She is active in her church, loves to garden and has performed in two plays through the Missoula Children's Theater. According to Emma, participating in sports has helped her recover from surgeries faster, has made her body more flexible and has given her better balance. Her goals are to learn more about history and foreign cultures, and her plans for the future include becoming a missionary and owning a restaurant.

Kacey is a student at MonarchHigh School. She is a sister, daughter, cheerleader, swimmer, gymnast, volunteer and champion. She also happens to have been born with Down syndrome. Kacey's favorite sport is cheerleading because she says it makes her happy and proud of herself. That's why she wants to donate her scholarship to her special needs cheerleading team. When Kacey isn't practicing on the team, she volunteers at Exempla Hospital and loves working with therapy dogs that make people happy when they are sad in the hospital. Her dream is to work with children and to teach kids what she has learned in her years of sports.

"We are so honored to be a small part of what John and Linda Lynch do for so many young, deserving athletes every year," said Michelle Sie Whitten, Executive Director of the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation. "Given our foundation's focus on Down syndrome and developmental disabilities it is a perfect matching of interests."

"It was extremely difficult to choose the final awardees as all of the applications were compelling, poignant and inspirational," said Linda Lynch at the luncheon.

Exceptional student-athletes with developmental and / or physical disabilities from local public schools were encouraged to apply for this award. Two winners were chosen and each received $5000 from the John Lynch Foundation in partnership with the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation. Winners were chosen based on the individual applicant's ability. The students proved success in academics, interest and extraordinary effort in athletics, and a desire to be involved in their community. Emma and Kacey may use their $5000 award towards a college education, post secondary education program, vocational program, therapeutic training, or any other program that will assist the winner in achieving their dreams.

To apply for the 2009 Exceptional Star of the Year Award visit www.johnlynchfoundation.org or, for more information, call Maggie Robinson at 1-866-553-4747.