IRVING, Texas – The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced Tuesday that Abilene Christian University's Dr.
Jonathan Stewart will be honored as part of the 2020 NFF Faculty Salutes Presented by Fidelity Investments, honoring the significant contributions of faculty athletics representatives across the nation.
"The partnership between athletics and academics contributes significantly to student-athletes' ACU experience, the life of the university, and the fulfillment of our mission," said Dr. Robert Rhodes, ACU provost. "Dr. Stewart effectively facilitates that connection, and this award highlights his talent and dedication."
As part of the initiative, each school with an NFF National Scholar-Athlete receives recognition for their faculty athletics representative, and a $5,000 donation per school (a total of $60,000 this year) from Fidelity is made to support the academic support services for student-athletes at the schools. Including this year's honorees, the salutes have recognized 139 FARs since the program's inception, and Fidelity has made a total of $690,000 in donations.
"It's my privilege to serve as the liaison between athletics and academics," said Dr. Stewart, a Professor of Finance at ACU's College of Business since 1996 who is in his fourth year as FAR. "I especially appreciate all the great academic work of ACU's student-athletes. I can't overstate how dedicated, focused, and organized they must be in order to succeed academically while devoting so much time to their sport.
"It's also a pleasure to work with each member of the athletic staff and coaches. I'm honored to be their colleague and thankful for the friendships I've developed while serving as the FAR. I'm particularly appreciative for the work of Sarah Shipp, Melissa Sullivan, Krista Masci, Chris Ballard, and the Faculty Athletic Committee to ensure our student-athletes have the academic support they need in order to excel academically. The commitment of University President Dr. Phil Schubert and Director of Athletics Allen Ward to pursue excellence in every area of our athletics programs is apparent and appreciated."
The NFF will recognize 12 Faculty Athletics Representatives from the 12 schools with a member of the 2020 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments, including (names of the scholar-athletes in parentheses):
Abilene Christian University, Dr. Jonathan Stewart (Jack Gibbens, LB, 4.00 GPA)
Alabama State University, Dr. Carmela Drake (Ezra Gray, RB, 4.00 GPA)
Boise State University, Dr. Roger Munger (Kekaula Kaniho, DB, 3.94 GPA)
Grand Valley State University (MI), Dr. Paul Leidig (Tyler Bradfield, LB, 3.99 GPA)
Hampden-Sydney College (VA), Dr. Saranna Thornton (Tyler Howerton, OL, 4.00 GPA)
Illinois State University, Dr. Jeri Beggs (Drew Himmelman, OT, 3.82 GPA)
United States Naval Academy, Dr. Christine Copper (Cameron Kinley, CB, 3.32 GPA)
University of Memphis, Lynda Black (Brady White, QB, 3.58 GPA)
University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Dr. Jeffrey Leak (Tyriq Harris, DE, 3.68 GPA)
University of Tennessee, Dr. Donald Bruce (Brandon Kennedy, OL, 3.55 GPA)
University of Texas, Dr. Michael Clement (Sam Ehlinger, QB, 3.42 GPA)
University of Washington, Dr. Alexes Harris (Elijah Molden, DB, 3.56 GPA)
"Dr. Stewart is very deserving of this recognition," said ACU Athletics Director Allen Ward. "I've been fortunate to work with a number of excellent Faculty Athletics Representatives and Dr. Stewart is one of the best.
"ACU and its athletics department are quite fortunate to have Dr. Stewart serve in this important role. He's outstanding with our student-athletes and cares deeply about the integrity of the institution. Not only does he promote the academic achievements of our student-athletes, but he is a vitally important part of their success. I congratulate Dr. Stewart on this recognition and thank you for his valuable service to ACU."
About the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards
The NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards were established in 1959 as the first initiative in history to honor scholar-athletes with postgraduate scholarships for their combined athletic, academic and leadership abilities. The NFF has awarded more than $11.9 million to 878 individuals since its inception. Fidelity Investments has served as the presenting sponsor of the annual NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class since 2011.
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a grade point average of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
In 2020, the NFF has selected 12 of the nation's best and brightest to each receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2020 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. Later this year, one member of the class will be declared the winner of the 31st William V. Campbell Trophy® Presented by Mazda as the nation's top football scholar-athlete and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
Past recipients have used their postgraduate scholarships to set the standard for excellence in our society, earning more than 150 medical degrees, 100 law degrees, 80 MBAs and 45 PhDs. Others have used the financial backing to enhance their successful careers in finance, consulting and engineering. Continuing their excellence on the field, more than 200 recipients have played in the NFL, including Drew Brees, Derrick Brooks, Joey Galloway, Peyton Manning, Lee Roy Selmon and Steve Young. Forty former National Scholar-Athletes have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Past Scholar-Athletes have made it big in a variety of fields, including UCLA's Mark Harmon, an actor and film producer; Texas Tech's Kliff Kingsbury, the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals; Richmond's Leland Melvin and Illinois' Michael Hopkins, NASA astronauts; and Georgia's Billy Payne, the former chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club. For more information regarding the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards or the College Football Hall of Fame programs, please visit www.footballfoundation.org.
About Fidelity Investments
Fidelity's mission is to inspire better futures and deliver better outcomes for the customers and businesses we serve. With assets under administration of $8.7 trillion, including discretionary assets of $3.4 trillion as of October 31, 2020, we focus on meeting the unique needs of a diverse set of customers: helping more than 32 million people invest their own life savings, 22,000 businesses manage employee benefit programs, as well as providing more than 13,500 institutions with investment and technology solutions to invest their own clients' money. Privately held for more than 70 years, Fidelity employs more than 47,000 associates who are focused on the long-term success of our customers. For more information about Fidelity Investments, visit https://www.fidelity.com/about-fidelity/our-company.
About The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. With 120 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Future For Football, The William V. Campbell Trophy® Presented by Mazda, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments and a series of initiatives to honor the legends of the past and inspire the leaders of the future. NFF corporate partners include Delta Air Lines, Fidelity Investments, Goodyear, Jostens, Mazda, the New York Athletic Club, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses and the Sports Business Journal. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @NFFNetwork and learn more at footballfoundation.org.
About 1A FAR
The 1A FAR is an organization of faculty athletics representatives at NCAA Division I institutions in the Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly known as Division 1A. The mission of the 1A FAR is to advocate for effective interaction and academic and fiscal balance between an institution's academic mission and its intercollegiate program. The purpose of the 1A FAR is to address issues unique to FBS institutions, which requires a careful balancing of academic versus athletics interests, of student-athlete welfare versus competitive success and of cost containment versus additional revenue generation. Learn more at oneafar.org.
