Oklahoma Violinist Overcomes Medical Challenge; Wins Heart of the Arts

**Elizabeth-Helen Martin,**a student at Ponca City (Oklahoma) High School, has been selected the 2015 Section 6 recipient of the "National High School Heart of the Arts Award" by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

The National High School Heart of the Arts Award was created by the NFHS to recognize those individuals who exemplify the ideals of the positive heart of the arts that represent the core mission of education-based activities. This is the second year that the National High School Heart of the Arts Award has been offered.

As a kindergarten student in 2003, Martin was listening to a group of high school students play music for the fourth-grade students at Lincoln Elementary School. It was then and there that Martin first fell in love with the sound of a violin – a love that still exists eight years later.

With excellent left-hand technique, a very strong bow hand and bow stroke, and terrific posture, things came naturally for Martin. However, she encountered a myriad of issues at that time.

A petite and quiet person, Martin has dealt with bullying issues throughout her school years. In junior high school, she began having health issues that included daily shoulder and back pain. Later, her posture and bow stroke worsened.

Due to family situations, Martin was soon without health insurance, which has made regularly seeing a doctor difficult. One of her physicians believes that she might have fibromyalgia, of which her mother has a mild case. Despite those challenges, Martin has been determined to not be a “charity case,” and to pay her own way for everything.

In addition, Martin has made some unwise decisions at various times during her life. However, every time that she made a poor choice, it seemed that music would pull her back to normalcy. Through all that, she has maintained a very positive attitude, and has done well in the classroom, earning a 3.667 grade-point average during the past fall semester.

Martin has a family member with autism who graduated from Ponca City High School in 2012. As the caring and selfless sibling, she spends a lot of time helping him through life.

About the Award

The NFHS divides the nation into eight geographical sections. The states in Section 6 are Oklahoma, Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas.

Nominations for this award were generated through NFHS member state associations and reviewed by the NFHS Heart of the Arts Award Selection Committee composed of state association staff members.

While the national winner will be recognized June 29 at the NFHS Summer Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, the section winners will be recognized within their respective states and will receive awards before the end of the current school year.