Basketball-newcomer Conor Fitzpatrick has been crowned as the Sky Sports Living for Sport Student of 2010.
Campbell crowns Conor as new Living for Sport champion
Darren Campbell hailed a new champion as Conor Fitzpatrick was crowned the Sky Sports Living for Sport Student of the Year 2010.
Olympic gold medallist Campbell paid tribute to Conor, a pupil at Newbattle Community High School in Midlothian, after hearing his inspirational story.
Conor - who previously rarely attended lessons - became an integrated member of class and school life after attending a number of basketball sessions through
Sky Sports Living for Sport, a free initiative delivered in partnership with the
Youth Sport Trust that uses sport to motivate and inspire 11-16 year olds.
Presenting Conor with his award at a prestigious ceremony at Lord's, Campbell said: "Conor's story is a shining example of the positive impact sport can have on young people.
"I am delighted to present him with this award in recognition of his hard work and commitment to improving himself and becoming a better student in all areas of his education."
Determination
Conor received his accolade after being selected as Scotland's Student of the Year in a series of UK wide regional semi-finals.
The judges felt his story demonstrated how
Sky Sports Living for Sport can help pupils to apply lessons learnt through sport to situations in school and everyday life.
Basketball offered Conor a new challenge and helped to boost his confidence, thereby enabling him to tackle more challenging tasks at school and to develop his interpersonal skills.
Campbell, who won gold in the 4x100m relay at the Athens Olympics in 2004, commented: "Sport helped me learn how to channel the focus and determination I have in sport into everything I do - without that influence my life would have been very different.
"This award demonstrates how Conor is equipping himself with the life skills he will need to succeed."
Conor has now taken on the role of sports ambassador for the school, visiting schools in the region to pass on the lessons he has learned to others.
To find out more about more about Conor's story - and how you and your school can get involved in
Sky Sports Living for Sport - simply
click here or visit
www.skysports.com/livingforsport.
