Positive Athlete South Central Region

The full All-American Team is here, including our South Central Region rep Fina Kessler from SME Lancers ! Meet all 10: https://www.positiveathlete.org/all-american-team

Stay Tuned 👀

A new kind of All-American roster is about to drop. Meet them on 08.05.26.

Positive Athlete and the USA Basketball Foundation will recognize 10 high school basketball student-athletes from across the country, five girls and five boys, whose character and impact stand out beyond the scoreboard.

Get courtside for the reveal: https://www.positiveathlete.org/all-american-team

We’re heading to Houston for the 2026 THSCA Coaching School & Convention! Texas High School Coaches Association

Stop by Booth 353 to say hi, spin the Prize Wheel, show off your best and learn how your school can get involved with Positive Athlete for the 2026–27 school year.

Our program is completely free and built to recognize, empower and connect student-athletes, coaches and school communities across Texas.

See you July 19–21! 🤠

What a special night celebrating our North Texas Positive Athlete award winners.

We are so grateful to the student-athletes, families, coaches, and community members who came together to recognize these incredible young leaders and the stories that make them so deserving of this honor.

A heartfelt thank you to Scottish Rite for Children Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center in Frisco for helping make the night possible, Raising Cane’s for catering the event, and HOW Water for providing water throughout the evening and sending each student-athlete home with a case of water.

Thank you to the parents, friends, and supporters who showed up, listened, celebrated, and helped make this night one to remember. We are grateful for this North Texas community.

ONLY 7 DAYS AWAY. 🏆

In just 7 days, we’ll celebrate the incredible North Texas student-athletes, coaches, athletic directors, and community leaders who continue to make a positive impact on and off the field.

The countdown is officially on for an unforgettable night of inspiration, recognition, and community. We can’t wait to honor the best of the best.

America is ready for USA vs. Paraguay, are you?

Tonight, millions will watch the world's best soccer players compete. Meanwhile, Positive Athlete just recorded 688% organic audience growth YOY because people are increasingly seeking stories of positive impact in their own communities. High school sports remains one of the last places where authentic stories of character, resilience, leadership, and service are still happening every day.
As you watch the 1% of athletes perform under the bright lights tonight, don't forget about the more than 75,000 Positive Athletes making a difference in schools and communities across the country.

That's what Positive Athlete is all about.
Recognizing. Empowering. Connecting.

Student-athletes, coaches, and athletic leaders who are creating positive change today while shaping stronger communities for tomorrow.

Sports is community.
Positive Athlete is community.
It takes a community. You can be a part of it too.

And the best part? Participation is completely free for schools, coaches, student-athletes, and families.
This movement continues to grow because communities, schools, and partners believe these stories deserve to be told.

Want to be part of it? Let's connect.

The O.P.E.R.A.T.E. Scholarships recognize student-athletes who consistently live out the values at the heart of Positive Athlete: Optimistic, Puts Team First, Encouraging, Respectful, Admits Imperfections, True Heart for Others, and Embraces Service.

Congratulations to Nathaniel Hernandez of IDEA Harvey E. Najim (San Antonio TX), recipient of the 2026 Positive Athlete Boys O.P.E.R.A.T.E. Scholarship for the South Central Region.

For Nathaniel Hernandez, running became more than competition — it became purpose, healing, and proof that difficult beginnings do not determine the finish line. At IDEA Harvey E. Najim, Nathaniel discovered cross country and track just two years ago, yet quickly transformed himself into one of the region’s top runners, earning a ninth-place finish at the Texas State Cross Country Championships while also competing at New Balance Nationals and the Adidas Indoor National Championships.

Nathaniel’s journey to this moment has not been easy. Rather than allowing those experiences to define him, Nathaniel chose optimism and perseverance. He often carries his coach’s words with him: “It’s not about where you go, it’s about what you do when you get there.” That perspective became the foundation for how he approaches life, athletics, and leadership.

Nathaniel’s impact extends far beyond the course. Ranked fifth in his graduating class with a 3.6 GPA and a 23 ACT score, he balances academics with meaningful leadership and service throughout San Antonio. Through Big Brothers Big Sisters, PALs, and the Martin Luther King Youth Commission, he mentors younger students and helped support one of the nation’s largest MLK marches and youth leadership events.

What makes Nathaniel special is the empathy behind his leadership. Whether mentoring younger runners, helping families through work and service, or encouraging teammates through demanding training sessions, he consistently puts others first.

Nathaniel Hernandez embodies the true spirit of O.P.E.R.A.T.E. — a resilient leader whose story reflects courage, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to lifting others while chasing his own dreams.