An Ernest Stapleton Elementary School (ESE) student is headed to the Super Bowl after being selected as one of just five students nationwide to win a pair of tickets to Super Bowl LXI through the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge and Finn’s Mission.
Sophia Farwell, a 5th grade student at Ernest Stapleton Elementary, was surprised with the news during a special assembly at the school this morning. Representatives from the American Heart Association (AHA) joined the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classes of ESE, along with school administrators and district leadership, to recognize Sophia and present her with the grand prize: two tickets to Super Bowl LXI, scheduled for February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Sophia earned an opportunity to win the national prize by participating in the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge and completing Finn’s Mission, an educational program that teaches students and families about heart health and lifesaving skills, including hands-only CPR. The program is part of a collaboration between the American Heart Association and the NFL aimed at providing students across the country with the knowledge and skills to help save a life during a cardiac emergency.
“We are incredibly proud of Sophia and all other RRPS students who participated in this program for taking the time to learn skills that could one day save someone’s life," said Rio Rancho Public Schools Superintendent Robert W. Dodd. “To have one of only five students selected from across the entire country come from Ernest Stapleton Elementary and Rio Rancho Public Schools makes this an especially exciting moment for our entire community.”
“Sophia represents so much of what makes our Stapleton community special: curiosity, compassion and a willingness to learn something that can make a real difference for others,” said Cheryl Clark, principal of Ernest Stapleton Elementary. “Seeing her surprised with this incredible news alongside her classmates and teachers was a moment our school will remember for a long time. We are so excited for Sophia and her family, and we could not be more proud to have her represent Stapleton on a national stage.”
Through the national initiative, five students are selected to each receive two tickets to the Super Bowl. Participating schools also have opportunities to earn funding for physical activity and fitness equipment. The program encourages students to develop heart-healthy habits while empowering young people and their families to learn how to recognize and respond to cardiac emergencies.
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