World’s Strongest Violinist Evan Pittman is among more than 20 elementary, middle and high school students selected nation-wide as 2015 Amateur Athletic Union Strength Sports Academic All-Americans. The Phoenix high schooler was the only Arizona student named to the Academic All-American list.

In addition to taking a full schedule of Honors and AP classes at Phoenix Country Day School during the year, Pittman won the prestigious Joe Foss Institute’s 2015 National Essay Contest.  He was also selected as AAU Strength Sports Men’s National Athlete of the Year in 2015, setting world powerlifting records at the US Powerlifting Federation nationals, the AAU Junior Olympic Games, and the World Powerlifting Federation world championships.  He also broke national and world records at the JO Games All-Sports Combine in Virginia, and the AAU Indoor World Feats of Strength Championships in Las Vegas, where he was named Best Youth Athlete.  In 2015, Pittman launched the “Lift for Heroes” campaign in partnership with the Bob Woodruff Foundation to raise money through powerlifting for combat-injured veterans.

As a high school athlete, Pittman was a finalist in the Arizona Division II High School Diving Championships in 2015.  As a performing violinist, he played in public venues more than 50 times in 2015 to an audience of well over 25,000 people, including playing the national anthem for an Arizona Diamondbacks professional baseball game, the kickoff of the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade, and a Presidential campaign rally.  His school has nominated him for the 2016 Prudential Spirit of Community Award for his Music Ministry and musical engagements in the community.

Pittman also founded and serves as co-president of the Black, Caribbean and Latino Club at Phoenix Country Day School.

“Our inaugural class of strength sports Academic All-Americans is simply amazing,” said Martin Drake, Chairman of AAU Strength Sports, in a press release.  “The list includes both 2015 AAU Strength Sports Athletes of the Year, and two past Joel Ferrell Award winners. We literally see the best of the best in this group of kids, and they represent programs from all over the United States.”

Read the full story on 2015 AAU Strength Sports Academic All-Americans here.