Brian Papa, center, was recognized for his service to youth by the PepsiCo Showdown and Buddy's HELPERS on Sunday. Joining him in a photo to commemorate the award were (from left): Michelle Youngblood (former player for Papa); Homewood-Flossmoor boys varsity head coach Chris Reid (former player); Shepard girls varsity coach Scott Wilkins (former assistant coach); Plainfield South head boys and girls varsity coach Dave Brown
(former player and assistant coach); Lincoln-Way East head boys varsity coach Ryan Decker (former assistant coach); and Bloom assistant coach Zach Radke (former assistant coach).
Papa honored for service
Lincoln-Way East teacher and soccer coach Brian Papa received a surprise in front of his peers Sunday at a meeting of educators.
The 63-year-old, who has taught high school in the south suburbs since 1978, was recognized by the PepsiCo Showdown and Buddy's HELPERS and awarded with roundtrip airplane tickets to the ESPY Awards in July in Los Angeles.
Papa has worked and coached at Rich Central, Bloom and Sandburg high schools. He will retire this spring from Lincoln-Way East, where he is the girls soccer coach. Papa is also the president of the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association.
The award was part of a Chicago-wide recognition campaign for student-athletes and coaches "Making A Difference On AND Off The Field." The PepsiCo Showdown and Buddy's HELPERS began the recognition for community service in December, when seven students from Andrew, Sandburg and Whitney Young high schools were honored.
Lincoln-Way East teacher and soccer coach Brian Papa received a surprise in front of his peers Sunday at a meeting of educators.
The 63-year-old, who has taught high school in the south suburbs since 1978, was recognized by the PepsiCo Showdown and Buddy's HELPERS and awarded with roundtrip airplane tickets to the ESPY Awards in July in Los Angeles.
Papa has worked and coached at Rich Central, Bloom and Sandburg high schools. He will retire this spring from Lincoln-Way East, where he is the girls soccer coach. Papa is also the president of the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association.
The award was part of a Chicago-wide recognition campaign for student-athletes and coaches "Making A Difference On AND Off The Field." The PepsiCo Showdown and Buddy's HELPERS began the recognition for community service in December, when seven students from Andrew, Sandburg and Whitney Young high schools were honored.