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2012 Athlete Alumni Ambassador (3A) Award Winners Announced

(5/18/12) - U.S. Figure Skating announced the 2012 Athlete Alumni Ambassador (3A) award recipients. The 3A award is a scholarship program that recognizes skaters who have achieved figure skating excellence while actively volunteering.

To earn a 3A award, skaters must have competed at the novice or junior level at the 2012 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships or the 2012 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championship. They were asked to submit an application detailing their volunteer work. The Athletes Advisory Committee selects one overall winner and five winners from each discipline (ladies, men's pairs, ice dancing and synchronized). The overall winner receives $1,000 and the winners of each discipline receive $500 which can be used at the skaters' discretion.

Further information about the criteria used to determine the recipients of the 3A award can be found here.

The 2012 award winners are:

Vincent Zhou, Peninsula SC (overall) - Zhou, the 2012 U.S. novice champion, volunteers at IceTown in Riverside, Calif., by instructing young skaters and skating in shows benefiting the American Cancer Society, tsunami relief efforts and Japanese earthquake victims. Also active in the community, Zhou plants trees at Stanford University, patrols Palo Alto, Calif., train crossings to ensure proper safety measures and raises money for schools. Zhou is an honor roll student and a President's Award for Educational Excellence recipient.

Jay Yostanto, All Year FSC (men's) - Yostanto has accumulated more than 260 hours of community service. A member of the Boy Scouts of America, Yostanto attained Eagle Scout status and serves as a counselor for the Boy Scouts' Religious Emblems program. Yostanto's community work includes organizing a Cleanup Day, running for charity in the Disney Half-Marathon and volunteering at a senior citizen center. He also serves his church, having been named Altar Server of the Year. He is a member of the National Honor Society and the Parent Teacher Student Association. Yostanto most recently placed seventh as a junior at the U.S. Championships.

Ashley Cain, Stars FSC of Texas (ladies) - As the president of her club's junior board, Cain volunteers at tests sessions, competitions and junior seminars hosted by the Stars FSC of Texas. She also teaches skating and holds mini-clinics for the young skaters. She participated in her club's holiday Ice Fest, a free event for the community that served as a canned food drive and raised money for 6 Stones Mission Network. Currently, Cain is planning a yearly Skate-A-Thon that will raise money for stipends for the club's competitive members. Outside the rink, Cain volunteers at 6 Stones Mission Network by participating in food drives, stacking shelves and recruiting volunteers. Cain is the 2012 U.S. junior silver medalist.

Britney Simpson, Broadmoor SC (pairs) - Simpson has volunteered as a mentor to elementary school students with cognitive and physical disabilities for nine years. Simpson and partner Matthew Blackmer, who are the 2012 U.S. junior silver medalists, visit schools as ambassadors for U.S. Figure Skating. Her other volunteer projects include collecting cans for the Horse Protection League and donating clothes to Coats for Colorado and APEX Community Center.

Hannah Rosinski, Pavilion SC of Cleveland Heights (ice dancing) - Rosinski volunteers at the Cleveland Foodbank and serves food to the homeless at St. Pat's Hunger Center. She has also volunteered at Catholic organizations, such as the West Side Ecumenical Ministry day care center, the Rose-Mary Center and the Catholic Worker Movement. Rosinski, who won the U.S. novice bronze medal with partner Jacob Jaffe, teaches learn-to-skate classes at the Cleveland Heights Community Center.

Courtney Cameron, St. Clair Shores FSC (synchronized) - Cameron, who is a National Honor Society member, volunteers as a teacher's assistant and tutor. She serves her club by helping with shows and competitions and by coaching the club's synchronized skating team, Shoreline Blaze. Her other volunteer work has benefited Habitat for Humanity, tsunami relief efforts and Detroit-area causes such as Shorewood Kiwanis. Cameron travels internationally as a member of Evolution.