Inspirational New Jersey Youth Named Runner-up of the Inspireum Soccer Awards

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While fighting his own battle with Crohn’s disease, Michael Cooper continues to help children with disabilities

Bend, OR – 3 January 2012 – Michael Cooper of Blackwood, New Jersey was named today as Runner-up of the inaugural 2011 Inspireum Soccer Awards. The Awards, administered by Inspireum, honor the most inspirational high school aged soccer players in America by awarding academic scholarships to the college of their choice. The Awards recognize individuals who display incredible character, courage, contribution, and commitment, and who serve as an inspiration to their teammates, peers, and communities. Cooper was named one of the most inspirational players out of over 250 young men and women who were nominated, and whose full stories can be viewed at www.InspireumSoccerAwards.com.

You will often find Michael assisting his highly functional autistic brothers with after school activities, practicing with the Highland Regional High School Varsity Soccer team, or studying to maintain his three-year running number one class rank. What most do not know about him, is that he is in a constant battle with Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines. Having been diagnosed at a young age, Michael has spent most of his life dealing with the pains and fatigues this disease triggers. He often experiences nausea, stomach cramping and vomiting caused from the disease. His symptoms come in waves, where one week he will be dealing with these issues everyday, and the next week he will feel normal. He often misses class and works extra hard to stay on top of homework in order to overcome these many obstacles.

Throughout everything Michael is going through physically, he continues to play soccer and helps ensure that his brothers get the support they need.  “I think they deserve my help and my time,” he says in reference to supporting his brothers. When they were first diagnosed with Autism, Michael was right by their side waiting to show support. “Rather than becoming bitter about the attention directed toward his brothers, he jumped in to help,” says dad Bob Cooper. Michael is also an active volunteer with the Soccer Stars Program. This program was first developed to provide kids on the autism and PDD/NOS spectrum with an opportunity to learn how to exercise, improve their motor planning and practice their social skills under the guise of the game of soccer.

With Michael’s help, the Soccer Stars program is assisting others going through the same developmental matters as his brothers. Michael continues to excel on the soccer field, in the classroom and within his community.  “We need more teenagers like Michael who are selfless and dedicated to helping others especially at such a young age,” says friend Judy Guido.

The Trusted Sports Foundation provides $25,000 in academic scholarships to the 12 Finalists.  As a runner up for the Inspireum Soccer Awards, Cooper will be awarded a $2,500 academic scholarship.

The winner of the Awards, Christian Metzler of Woodbridge, Virginia, is a terrific goalkeeper despite only having one leg. He inspires others with his greatness on the field as well as his work with disabled veterans at the Walter Reed and Bethesda Medical Centers. The other Runners-up are Tara McNaught of Lakewood, California, who spends hours each day undergoing breathing treatments to overcome Cystic Fibrosis in order to be part of her high school and club soccer teams, and Humberto Alvarez of Medford, Oregon, who sacrificed his junior year season when he donated bone marrow to save his five year old brother who has Lymphoma.

The Winner and Runners-up were determined by the National Selection Committee comprised of Awards Chairman Steve Sampson, and U.S. Men’s National Team Coach Jurgen Klinsmann, as well as many other well-known soccer personalities. April Heinrichs, a former U.S. Women’s National Team player and coach, and the first woman inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame is serves on the committee, as do Lynn Berling-Manuel, Chief Marketing Officer of American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), and Andres Cantor, whose famous call, “GOOOOAAALLLL!” will be the new hallmark of the upcoming World Cup broadcast in the U.S. The committee voted for the nominees who they feel most inspire others, and who best represent the values of character, courage, contribution, and commitment.

Two Fan Favorites have also been selected by online “fan” vote, each to receive a $2,000 academic scholarship. One female, Maritza Valdespino, and one male, Eric Arsenault, have been named the Fan Favorites. Valdespino of Houston, Texas hails from a low-socioeconomic, inner-city area, but overcame every barrier and stereotype to excel to the utmost, both academically and athletically. Arsenault, of Lake Worth, Florida, underwent the removal of a tumor on his spine and implantation of metal rods to stabilize his spine. Although it took several years, Eric re-learned how to walk before he made his way back to the soccer field.

About Inspireum and the Inspireum Soccer Awards

Inspireum utilizes the power of social media, technology and community-based marketing to share inspirational youth achievement in sports and community service.  We discover, amplify, and celebrate young people who inspire their schools, teammates, friends, family, and community.  The Inspireum Soccer Awards celebrate inspirational young athletes who embody the values of character, courage, contribution and commitment through the sport of soccer. Recognizing and rewarding these outstanding players inspires other youth to pursue sports as a positive, action-oriented path to self-discipline, leadership, strong academic performance and a healthy lifestyle.

Images and video are available online at www.InspireumSoccerAwards.com.
Contact:   Kristin Hansen (541-508-0400 / Kristin@inspireum.com)

About Trusted Sports Foundation

Trusted Sports Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on inspiring kids to thrive in life through sports.  Our goal is to empower underserved youth to live up to their full potential through positive sports experiences that form active, healthy habits for a lifetime.  Through our national inspirational youth sports awards programs, we reward character, courage, contribution and commitment with academic scholarships for athletes who inspire their teams, schools, and communities.  Through our Kids In The Game program, we provide financial resources to help youth from low-income families, youth that are physically or mentally challenged, and kids that are at-risk gain access to sports programs. Learn more at www.TrustedSportsFoundation.com.