"Without purpose, we have no cause to be brave"
2007 Recipient
Ralph Riello.
Education was Ralph’s strong suit as Ralph posted a 5.0 during the wrestling season. Wrestling as a secondary event, Ralph performed very well posting a 37-6 record on the season.
Award Background

The Alberta Baumgart Memorial Award was created to honor and assist a student athlete, more specifically a Platt wrestler, who exhibits the bravery, resilience, and dedication we find to be some the best traits a person can possess.

Criterion:

A senior graduating Platt wrestler
A Platt wrestler who has been accepted to a 4-year college
A Platt wrestler who show the most character throughout his career at Platt
Not necessarily, an may well not be, the wrestler with the best career record

Note:

  The organization withholds the right to not make an annual award.  This would occur if only a graduating senior has been accepted to a 4-year college and does not display the character required by the selection committee.
The funds allotted for that year’s award will be reallocated to increase the award for future years.  Our hope is that we will be capable of giving an award every year.

Selection Process

Our selection process is both a formal and informal process. Here is a rough outline of how we choose the annual award recipient:

  1. A formal submission of an essay from each graduating Senior who has applied to a 4 year college and would like to be considered for the award.
  2. A meeting of the selection committee to review the submitted essays.
  3. A discussion by the selection committee members of each of the essays to determine the message of the candidates.
  4. The current head coach of the O.H. Platt High School wrestling team will provide background and color on the character displayed by each of the candidates to help the selection committee make a fully informed decision.
  5. Each of the essays carries no specific weight and they are used to help create an overall picture of each candidate; not define them out of context.
  6. A vote is taken and a 2/3 majority is needed to win the committees nomination.

The selection committee will have final say in the nominee chosen. The selection committee is made of former and present coaches of the O.H. Platt High School wrestling team. The committee is as follows:

  • Current Head Coach: Bryan McCarty
  • Former Assistant Coach: Karl C Baumgart
  • Former Assistant Coach: Douglas Stevenson

Award Process

Once the nominee is chosen, the head coach will notify the nominee of their selection. We feel this notification process is very much in line with the family oriented feel we have striven for and have achieved to this point with the delivery and selection of our award.

Each year’s nominee will be awarded the following:

  1. An award dinner to celebrate the selection for the award and the student-athletes accomplishments. The nominee is invited to bring his / her family to share in the accomplishment and the celebration. We feel that our award is a great personal achievement to have met. The character that is required in being selected for this award is far superior to any other scholarship we are aware of. The financial award is not the most important piece of this award to most of the recipients. Being selected for having shown this level of character is important to share with the recipient’s family and is often times the results of the work of the parents in raising a child that has grown with this much moral fiber and character. In a way, most times, the award belongs just as much to them as it does the recipient.

  2. At the award dinner the nominee is awarded a beautiful crystal eagle to commemorate the selection and also is advised of the financial portion of the award. Each year the financial award has grown with the success of our fundraising efforts and our generous sponsors and donors.

  3. Finally, upon registration with the college registrar, the nominee will receive the financial portion of the award.