The Seventh Annual Ellie Helm“SPIRIT” Award
The Seventh Annual Ellie Helm“SPIRIT” Award
Sturgeon Bay, WI - The Door County YMCA Striver’s Gymnastics Team awarded the Seventh Annual Ellie Helm “Spirit” Award at their team banquet on Monday, August 26th. The Ellie Helm Spirit Award stands for Sportsmanship, Positivity, Inspiration, Respect and Teamwork. Six characteristics that describe Ellie Helm.
Ellie was a long-time Striver Gymnast who won numerous individual, State, and National Medals for the Striver Team. Ellie was a Gibraltar graduate; she attended The University of North Dakota. Ellie participated on the UND cheerleading squad. On September 29, 2017 Ellie lost her life suddenly and tragically in an ATV accident. At that moment the world lost a loving, kind, compassionate young woman.
The Ellie Helm “SPIRIT” Award is awarded to a Striver Gymnast who exemplifies and encapsulates Ellie’s kind spirit, her compassion for the sport of gymnastics and love for her teammates, and most importantly exhibits the characteristics that define the Spirit Award.
The 2023-2024 Ellie Helm “SPIRIT” Award recipient is Level 7 gymnast Estelle Duerst. Estelle is the daughter of Sofia and Jesse Duerst. Estelle is home-schooled and is in 7th grade. ESTELLE has been on the Striver’s Gymnastic Team for five seasons, Estelle will compete in Level 8 (out of 10) this season. ESTELLE embellishes herself with encouraging her teammates and having a brave spirit, she is determined, resilient and diligent. Estelle gives 100 percent to every Team practice; she is a joy to have in the gym
Congratulations Estelle Duerst!
The Door County YMCA: For Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility. Driven by its founding mission, the Door County YMCA has 200 full and part-time staff serving over 11,619 members in Door County from facilities in Fish Creek and Sturgeon Bay in a broad range of programming for all ages. The Y empowers everyone, no matter who they are or where they’re from, by ensuring access to resources, relationships, and opportunities for all to learn, grow and thrive. By bringing together people from different backgrounds, perspectives, and generations, the Y’s goal is to improve overall health and well-being, ignite youth empowerment and demonstrate the importance of connections in and across 10,000 communities nationwide.
###