I AM SPORT Award nominations are open

Being a special athlete isn’t strictly about scoring baskets or catching touchdown passes.

It also can be any student-athlete who knows how to provide an assist off the field.

High school sports not only provide students with a chance to learn lessons and traits that will help them later in life, but it also gives them a chance to become leaders and make an impact in their communities.

That is the kind of student-athlete the I AM SPORT Award wants to celebrate.

Are you an athlete who is doing positive things in the community?

Do you know a student-athlete who is a making a positive impact?

You might be just the person who gets recognized for that work at the Journal Sentinel High School Sports Awards Show on May 7 at the Pabst Theater.

We are now accepting nominations for the award for students in southeast Wisconsin.

The submission deadline is 8 a.m. Jan. 21. After the nomination period closes, readers will vote on the winner from Jan. 22 to March 5.

The three nominees with the most votes will be invited to attend the awards show. The winner will be announced during the event.

Nominations can be submitted at sportsawards.jsonline.com/#contests.

So what kind of athlete are we looking for?

Last year’s winner, Richard Smith of Hartford, volunteered as a flag football and youth basketball coach.

The 2017 winner, Morgan Rymer of Catholic Memorial, was acknowledged for her work with the TOPS soccer program that gives kids with cognitive or physical needs the chance to play sports.

For more information on the Journal Sentinel Awards Show go to sportsawards.jsonline.com