Awards Banquet

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s All Arkansas Preps awards banquet, sponsored by CHI St. Vincent, will feature keynote speaker Dick Vitale. Vitale, will deliver an empowering motivational speech at the June 20th event that honors the state’s best high school athletes and coaches chosen for All Arkansas Preps. The year-end banquet will be held that evening at the Wally Allen Ballroom in the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock.

Vitale’s roots are as a coach for the University of Detroit and for the Detroit Pistons in the 1970s, but he is most known for his color commentary on ESPN where his knowledge, preparation and enthusiasm are unparalleled. He has created a many household phrases including "Awesome, Baby" and is a popular figure outside of sports as well appearing in movies and TV throughout his career. He currently is a regular contributor during NBA season on ESPN and in print with ESPN The Magazine, the Basketball Times and USA Today.

Tickets

The event will be held from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Wally Allen Ballroom in the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. Athletes should attend the Athlete Meet and Greet from 5-6 p.m. in the lobby of the Statehouse. All athletes will enter into the banquet together during the Parade of Athletes, which will take place at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are available to the public for $75 each or for a table of 10 (priority seating) for $1,250 and must be purchased in advance. Seating is limited and available to the public on a first come, first serve basis. Click here to purchase.

Please note that athletes chosen will receive free admission but must reserve their ticket through our ticketing system in advance. Click here for more information.

Parents (two per student athlete) will receive a special rate to attend the banquet. Click here for more information.

All of these student athletes who are chosen as the first, second or sophomore teams will be invited to attend the event. Out of each sport, a male and female athlete will be selected to receive the honor of Outstanding Player of the Year. These students will receive an award at the event on stage and will have their photograph taken with Manning. In addition, an Overall Male Athlete, Overall Female Athlete and Coach of the Year will be chosen and honored at the event. More than 350 athletes will be chosen from nine different sports. The All Arkansas Preps event, which is also sponsored by First Security Bank, Arkansas Select Buick GMC Dealers and Deltic Timber will be a first-class experience for the 1,200 who attend.

See all the All Arkansas Preps athletes chosen in each sport here.

Purchase tickets to the event here.

All Arkansas Preps Parents and Athletes