CoSIDA members - nominate your deserving student-athletes now through Dec. 31 for a Haier Achievement Award. Haier will announce eight (8) honorees throughout the year. For each winner, Haier will donate $2,000 to the school's general scholarship fund and award the athletic department a 48-inch LED HD television.
In March, you can invite fans to vote online for the Haier Ultimate Achievement Award winner. The winner will earn his/her school a $5,000 donation to the general scholarship fund and a Haier 48-inch LED HD television. Additionally, all fans who vote will be entered into a drawing to win a Haier 48-inch LED HD TV.
Nominate deserving student-athletes through Dec. 31, 2015 at www.HaierAchievement.com
First two honorees: Kansas State basketball's Kelly Thomson; UCF soccer's Megan Fish (below)
WAYNE, NJ & ORLANDO, FL - Megan Fish, a senior midfielder for the University of Central Florida women's soccer team, has been selected a recipient of the
Haier Achievement Award, which is presented to deserving student-athletes for their accomplishments beyond sports. The announcement of this year's second
Haier Achievement Award recipient was made by John Homlish, Senior Vice President and Business Unit Leader of Digital Living for Haier America and Doug Vance, Executive Director of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
"The Haier Achievement Award program brings to light those student-athletes who have achieved success beyond sports," said Homlish. "By recognizing eight inspiring student-athletes like Megan throughout the year, we hope to further motivate other young people to achieve and succeed both on and off the field. We commend Megan for being a model student-athlete on the field, in the classroom and in her community."
Megan's passion for soccer, hard work and following her dreams was inspired by the tenacity her father, Carmen, demonstrated before losing his 12-year battle with cancer following Megan's 13th birthday. At UCF she has excelled on the soccer field and also discovered her passion off the field: using sport for social change.
In May 2014 and 2015, she spent a week in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (in the Caribbean) on service-learning trips running sports clinics and renovating a library. She was also the only current NCAA student-athlete accepted to attend the prestigious 2014 O4H Summer Praxis - a professional training opportunity focused on Olympic value dissemination as a tool for social change. A psychology major, scheduled to graduate this December, Megan was also recognized in 2013 and 2014 as an American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team selection.
On the pitch, the 5'6" native of Summerville, S.C., has been a leader and a model of consistency for the UCF Knights. She has started all but two games this season after starting 14 of 22 matches as a junior. After redshirting her freshman season, she appeared in 16 matches in 2012 before a torn ACL prematurely ended her season. She came back strong in 2013, scoring her first two career goals - both game-winners - in back-to-back games. In high school at Pinewood Prep., she was the MVP of the 2009 SCISA AAA State Championship soccer team and the co-Region Player of the Year.
"I'm so thankful to be able to receive this prestigious award, however I am only a representation of how amazing my family is here at the University of Central Florida," said Fish. "Because of their mission to provide the student-athletes with opportunity to use their sports for social change, I was able to discover my love for serving others. Also, having a coach and mentor like Tiff, you understand the importance of gratitude and compassion, two virtues that I try to embody and share with others. With that said, I'm so grateful for everyone who has been a part of my journey thus far and will continue to pay it forward for all of the love and opportunity that I have received throughout my life."
Haier will officially recognize Fish with an on-field presentation at an upcoming UCF sporting event In addition to awarding her with a plaque, Haier will donate $2,000 to the UCF general scholarship fund and award a Haier 48-inch LED HD television to the school's athletic department.
"We are incredibly proud of Fish for this well-deserved recognition. She is not only a selfless teammate, but she is also a kind, giving person," UCF women's soccer head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak said. "It's been a pleasure to coach her and see her develop a passion for helping others through sport. I can think of no one more worthy of this award."
Student-athletes from all sports, all schools, and all divisions are eligible for the Haier Achievement Award. Members of CoSIDA and fans can nominate student-athletes through December 31, 2015, at
www.HaierAchievement.com. Haier will announce eight (8) honorees throughout the year and in March invite fans to vote online for the
Haier Ultimate Achievement Award winner. The winner will earn his/her school a $5,000 donation to the general scholarship fund and a Haier 48-inch LED HD television.
Additionally, all fans who vote will be entered into a drawing to win a Haier 48-inch LED HD TV.
Kelly Thomson, a junior women's basketball player at Kansas State University was the first Haier Achievement Award honoree recognized this year.