My idea for OSF grew out of students experiencing school success through making things. At OSF we make skateboards and the catalyst of the expansive growth and support of our program I believe happened when I began to take portrait photos of every new student proudly holding their first deck, documenting this moment of their reengagement with school. Sharing these photos on our social media let the public in on this transformative educational moment and helped many adults and teens themselves see and imagine what is possible as alternative education. This opened the door to a community embrace of OSF for the past 13 years that has been the essential element to the success of our students. In discussion with our community about my legacy stepping away from my role as the founding teacher of OSF as I step into retirement, we thought it would be a nice idea to start a new award in my name. OSf gives many grad awards, but this new award isn’t for a graduating student although you all know how deeply proud I am of our growing list of OSF GRADS and VIPS. The new annual GET ON BOARD OSF’s FOUNDER AWARD is a cash award matched with a pro builder kit from our friends at Roarockit Skateboard Company going to a new student recently joining the crew in celebration of their reengagement with school and to help be a platform to launch their continued creative and educational work. Going through the photos of new students so proudly displaying their first completed project and reading about their new brand, personal reflections and their process of design, there were so many great first skateboards and ideas, but the first annual winner of the GET ON BOARD OSF’s FOUNDER AWARD is CHLOE of FLUIDITY WITHIN. Congrats Chloe! - Craig
