Nick Mears Named Campbell Trophy Semi-Finalist

Former MHS standout athlete, Nick Mears, has been selected as a semi-finalist for the 2016 William V. Campbell Trophy, presented by Fidelity Investments. The Campbell Trophy is awarded annually to the best scholar-athlete in the nation. Candidates for the award must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a grade point average of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, a starter or significant contributor, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.

“It is a privilege for me to even be nominated for this award,” Mears said. “It’s tough to put into words how much work and time goes into not only football, but school, as well. This award is an awesome honor and it means some of the hard work I put in these last few years is paying off.”
Of the 156 semi-finalists from all levels of college football, 12 to 14 finalists will be announced on November 1. Each of the finalists will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete Class. The finalists will travel to the 59th NFF Annual Awards dinner on December 9, in New York City, where the winner of the Campbell Trophy and a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship will be announced.

Mears is a defensive back for the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits and a three-year starter at safety for the team, which made four consecutive Football Championship Subdivision playoff appearances. As a sophomore, he ranked second on the team with 96 tackles. This year, Mears is a senior captain and also excels in the classroom. He earned first-team recognition on the 2015 CoSIDA Academic All-American Team. “I know I have been blessed,” Nick said. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my parents, teammates, and coaches.”