Project Green Schools is excited to continue to partner with and share the amazing work of Avalon Theisen; Founder of Conserve It Forward. Congratulations Avalon!!
Tampa Teen Will Carry Florida Flag at National Games
TAMPA, Florida, July 20, 2017 – Dual enrolled homeschooler Avalon Jade Theisen, who studies full time at St. Pete College, will be Florida’s flag bearer at the 2017 State Games of America in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She has also been named one of ten 2017 State Games of America MVPs, as she helps promote healthy living, training, and eating leading up to the event.
The State Games of America is an Olympic-style event held every odd year that features competition between medal winners from State Games and other events across the nation. This year’s event is expected to attract over 12,000 competitors. Theisen, 16, earned the opportunity to compete at the national event after receiving a gold medal at the 2016-2017 USA Yoga Southern States Super Regional Championship in Richardson, Texas in April.
The State Games of America Opening Ceremonies will take place at 7:30pm on Friday, August 5 at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. Theisen will compete the morning of Sunday, August 6. She is coached by Suzanne Elliott of Bikram Yoga on the Island in Merritt Island, FL.
Theisen started a nonprofit organization, Conserve It Forward, when she was nine years old. Her work has helped her connect with many partners and organizations to help the environment, inspire others to make positive change, and promote kindness and peacemaking. Theisen has spoken at many local, national, and global events, including the White House and a United Nation Climate Change Conference related event in Paris, France, both by invitation of Project Green Schools.
Service work plays a major role in Theisen’s life, as do academics. She will graduate high school one year early in 2018 with her Associate’s Degree before entering university, where she plans to major in Religious Studies with a minor in Environmental Policy.
Theisen explains, “My goal for my future work is to help inspire mutual understanding and respect across different cultures and viewpoints. Kindness and respect go a long way, whether in my current service work or in sports competition. Being part of something positive, of people supporting each other and working together to improve ourselves and our communities, these are the things that make me truly happy.”
