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 2018 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships or the 2018 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships. Candidates were asked to submit an application detailing their volunteer work. The Athletes Advisory Committee (AAC) selects one overall winner and one winner from each discipline (ladies, men's, pairs, ice dance and synchronized). The overall winner receives $2,000, while each of the remaining five honorees receive $500, which can be used at the skaters' discretions.
More information about the criteria used to determine the recipients of the 3A award can be found here.
The 2018 3A award recipients are:
Christine Farnberg, Rochester FSC (overall) — A dedicated skater, student, musician and volunteer, Farnberg placed 10th at the 2018 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships with the Northernettes junior team. Farnberg is equally devoted to her studies and making opportunities for her peers to experience the joy of volunteering. She founded the WHO Club (We Help Others) at Lourdes High School in Rochester, Minnesota, and regularly volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House, Feed My Starving Children, the Friendship Place and Habitat for Humanity.
Emilea Zingas, St. Claire Shores FSC (ladies) — Zingas is a two-sport athlete, playing lacrosse and earning the 2018 U.S. novice silver medal. She is also violinist and oratorical speech competitor at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. Zingas shares her love of skating by volunteering at Grosse Pointe learn to skate sessions and serving on the St. Claire Shores Athletes Committee to recruit young skaters and raise money for nearby charities.
Lucas Altieri, Panthers FSC (men's) — Living with Crohn's disease and arthritis from age 11 to 13, Altieri persevered through the pain and treatments to continue to pursue his dream of skating. Placing fourth in the novice division at the 2018 U.S. Championships, he now gives back to those who are fighting through these illnesses by avidly volunteering for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation in South Florida. He is also a member of the National Honor Society and volunteers with the Learn to Skate USA program at the Panthers Ice Den.
Audrey Lu, Dallas FSC (pairs) — Lu and her partner, Misha Mitrofanov, are the 2018 U.S. junior champions. Lu volunteers for the Hope Supply Co., which strives to meet the critical needs for homeless and at-risk children by providing the necessities to sustain their lives. Lu is committed to academic excellence, maintaining straight As and receiving numerous academic honors such as the President's award and Scholastic Honors award.
Gianna Buckley, Seattle SC (ice dance) — Buckley, the 2018 U.S. novice silver medalist in ice dance with partner Jeffrey Chen, dedicates her time to a community organization that assists the homeless in her community. She packs food and distributes it to those in need in her local area on a weekly basis, in addition to assisting her local library with re-stocking of materials twice a week.
Joyce Guo, Hayden Recreation Centre FSC (synchronized) — Guo is an active student at her high school, serving as class secretary, and organizing a Hurricane Maria relief fundraiser that generated more than $400. She founded the Power of Positivity Club, volunteers as a peer tutor and was recently inducted into the Spanish Honor Society. Guo works with Sources of Strength, an organization dedicated to preventing suicide and promoting healthy sources of strength such as positive friends, mentors and healthy activities. Guo is a member of the Lexettes, which took home silver in the junior event at the 2018 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships.
