Dia Chawla from Pillow Academy in Greenwood, Mississippi, and Adom Appiah from Spartanburg Day School in Spartanburg, South Carolina, are the National Winners of the 2021 Heisman High School Scholarship
2021 Heisman High School Scholarship National Winners Announced
The Heisman Trophy Trust today announced Adom Appiah from Spartanburg Day School in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Dia Chawla from Pillow Academy in Greenwood, Mississippi, are the National Winners of the 2021 Heisman High School Scholarship, presented by Acceptance Insurance.
The Heisman High School Scholarship program honors the nation’s most accomplished, community-minded high school senior athlete/scholars. This year, the Heisman Trophy Trust doubled the scholarship amounts to increase support of each student-athlete’s education. Adom and Dia both receive a $10,000 scholarship for their college education and will be recognized at the televised Heisman Trophy Ceremony on Dec. 11 at 8 pm EST on ESPN.
The 2021 Male National Winner Adom Appiah is from Spartanburg Day School in Spartanburg, SC. Adom is student body president, an accomplished basketball and soccer player, an AP scholar, and a two-time Scripps National Spelling Bee Semifinalist. He is also the recipient of the Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award, Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, and William R. Simms Award for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy. Adom has already raised more than $100,000 to benefit charities in his community through his own nonprofit organization, Ball4Good, which began as an annual celebrity basketball game that Adom envisioned and brought to life as part of his seventh-grade history project.
The 2021 Female National Winner is Dia Chawla from Pillow Academy in Greenwood, MS. Dia is valedictorian and student body president. She is a state champion in tennis and dance, a district championship basketball player, and the holder of multiple school and district records in her three varsity sports. Through her volunteer work with organizations like the Boys and Girls Club and a local rural hospital, Dia has become keenly aware of the inequities that exist in her community and has made it her mission to combat them. Having achieved a perfect score of 36 on her ACT, Dia founded the ACT Diversity Preparation Club to bring together students from diverse backgrounds and ensure all students have the support they need to thrive.
“Thank you to Acceptance Insurance for joining The Heisman Trophy Trust in recognizing the next generation of great American leaders whose stories of leadership and impact through sports are truly inspiring,” Heisman Trust President Michael Comerford said. “These student-athletes use their talents and push their limits to improve their communities and their success is a true testament to the power of sports.”
Since 1993, the High School Scholarship program has honored more than 600,000 of the nation’s most esteemed high school seniors and provided more than $1 million in college scholarships to students throughout the United States.
About The Heisman Trophy Trust
The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the outstanding college football player in the United States. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work. The Heisman Trophy Trust ensures the continuation and integrity of this award. The Trust, furthermore, has a charitable mission to support amateur athletes and to provide greater opportunities to the youth of our country. Our goal through these charitable endeavors is for The Heisman Trophy to symbolize the fostering of a sense of community responsibility and service to our youth, especially those disadvantaged or with special needs. For more information about the Heisman High School Scholarship program, visit https://heismanscholarship.com/.
About First Acceptance Corporation
Acceptance Insurance (OTCQX: FACO) is both an omnichannel insurance agency and insurance carrier operating in 13 states across more than 330 retail locations. Their team of 1,300-plus focuses on developing long-term relationships with historically underserved customers and those who prefer more flexible payment schedules and greater risk tolerance. Local community engagement, supported by robust digital messaging on owned and earned platforms, gives each agency a local feel and the resources of an institutional carrier. The technology that powers their claims department and the values that comprise the Acceptance culture both serve their mission: passionately helping hard-working people deal with life’s uncertainty. This commitment to service is evident in their A+ (highest) rating from the Better Business Bureau. Additional information can be found online at www.acceptance.com.