News

On Sunday, December 29, the Indianapolis Colts and Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc. will honor Fort Wayne Snider High School as the recipient of the 2013 Blue Horseshoe Award.  The Blue Horseshoe Award is presented annually in recognition of a high school football program whose acts of service better their community.

Twenty student-athletes and coaches from the Fort Wayne Snider Panther football team will be honored with the Blue Horseshoe Award prior to kickoff of the Indianapolis Colts-Jacksonville Jaguars game at Lucas Oil Stadium.     

The Indianapolis Colts and IHSAA teamed to launch the statewide program in 2009.  IHSAA member football teams are invited to complete community service projects in the off-season. The program offers opportunities for football players to develop as teammates, aid their community, and promote their school.  It is the goal of the Blue Horseshoe Award for the sport of football to transcend the gridiron and assist in the development of Indiana’s communities. 

The Fort Wayne Snider football program takes an active role in giving back to the community they call home.  Each class works with a Fort Wayne-based organization for the entirety of their careers as student-athletes.  This year, the senior class will complete their third year working with Erin’s House, an organization that provides support services for children, teens, and their families who have suffered the death of a loved one.  The juniors volunteered at the Euell Wilson Center, a Christian organization designed to enrich the lives of children and strengthen families.  The sophomore class began its first of three years working with Mustard Seed, which provides household furnishings to families and individuals as they rebuild their lives after suffering disaster, personal tragedy, or catastrophic misfortunes. 

“One of the goals of our football program is for our players to learn to care about something other than themselves,” said Snider head coach Kurt Tippmann. “By matching up each class of students with a community organization and facilitating their participation, we hope to provide for them the opportunity to experience helping others so that it may become a meaningful part of their life after high school.”

The Indianapolis Colts and IHSAA commend the Fort Wayne Snider football program for their teamwork off the playing field.  These student-athletes have gained an understanding of the power of teamwork when the helmet is off and have witnessed firsthand their impact as leaders in their community.

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About the Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc. (IHSAA)
Founded in 1903, the purpose of the Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc. (IHSAA) is to encourage, regulate and give direction to wholesome amateur interschool athletic competition between its 412 member schools. The Association provides state championship tournament series in 20 sports, 10 for girls and 10 for boys. Approximately 160,000 student athletes participate in IHSAA sports on an annual basis.