WINTER PARK, Fla. – Nova Southeastern senior
Esau Simpson is the male recipient of the 2014 Sunshine State Conference Sportsmanship Award.
Simpson (Sr., St. David's, Grenada) exemplified sportsmanship at Nova Southeastern and was the recent winner of the 2014 NSU Athletics Sportsmanship Award. He is an All-America Honorable Mention on the Sharks' swimming and diving team.
"Esau is a tremendous representative and ambassador of Nova Southeastern University," said NSU Director of Athletics Michael Mominey. "His abilities as a student-athlete are obvious to many who follow the sport of swimming locally and nationally, but what I'm impressed more with is Esau's ability to engage, motivate and lead people around him. He is certainly deserving of this honor and this is a great way to be honored as he finishes his collegiate career."
Simpson has been a role model and model student-athlete through his time at Nova Southeastern. After his sophomore season, Simpson became the most high profile student-athlete when he competed in the 2012 London Olympics for his home country of Grenada. When he returned from London, Simpson used his profile to become a better leader for his team and the entire student-body.
"Esau has a likability that extends through all diversities, backgrounds and ages," said NSU head swimming coach Hollie Bonewit-Cron. "Some of Esau's greatest moments were when he was at the 2012 London Olympics, talking to the young kids who came to watch him. Esau has the ability to relate his experiences to these young imaginations and would have their eyes dancing with excitement.
"Esau truly embodies being a man for all people and has always looked to better himself and others through the telling of his stories and the experiences he's had throughout his life. Esau is a friend to everyone and is always looking for ways to help others. I couldn't be more proud of him for his sportsmanship and leadership over the last four years."
This past year, Simpson served as the NSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's Shark Night Chair, where he helped drive high attendance among student-athletes at NSU's most crucial home events for all sports. Simpson could be regularly seen leading a sea of white in cheers.
Simpson leaves Nova Southeastern after setting the tone for a four-year old swimming and diving program, while helping to establish a culture of unity among student-athletes.
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