St. Thomas University tennis coach Bruce Carrington and Bobcats men’s basketball player Adam McNeill were each nominated for the 2018 NAIA Character Awards, as the Sun Conference released the honorees for four special awards.
Carrington was nominated because of his dedication to deliberately teaching character through tennis.
Carrington teaches character to his teams by rotating the responsibilities and authority that comes with being a coach, and requires each team member to perform as an assistant coach for a week.
Carrington has spent thousands of hours assisting underprivileged youth in South Florida, using tennis as a conduit. He has been recognized for his service by the USTA, and by the City of Miami with the creation of “Bruce Carrington Day” as a tribute to his work in the community.
McNeill has been put forward for the Emil S. Liston Scholarship, for academic and athletic excellence by a junior men’s and women’s basketball student-athlete.
McNeill holds a perfect 4.0 GPA as an accounting major, and volunteered at the Bethel Worship Center 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament during his spring break. He also plays a key role with the Twin City Catholic Club, supervising and assisting with the set-up of the Wednesday Concert Series held in Gateway Harbor Park on the Erie Canal.
“Adam is our rock in the paint, but what makes him special is that his tireless work ethic his teammates feel makes us a strong contender for next season,” said coach Patrick Gayle.
The winners will be announced in mid-September during the NAIA’s annual National Awards Day, and honored at the NAIA Convention in April.