LEE UNIVERSITY’S Brice Sharp, center, was named the winner of the 2012 Champions of Character Award. The award represents the five core values of the NAIA: respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship.
During ceremonies at the NAIA National Championship, Sharp was named the winner of the 2012 Champions of Character Award and $2,000 Pattison Scholarship Award. Only four other male players from NAIA Division I basketball received the recognition and the scholarship.
The award established by Dr. Phil Pattison represents the five core values of the NAIA: respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship. Said Pattison, “There is more to this award than the basketball played on the floor. We also look at community involvement, their leadership on the campus and just kids that we would like our own to hang out with.”
Sharp’s community involvement was probably what sealed the deal. Last summer he spent several hours visiting bed-ridden senior citizens at the local rest home. He also is an enthusiastic volunteer for Meals on Wheels, an organization that delivers meals to shut-ins. He also has gone beyond the local community into Dalton, Ga., and did the same type of work delivering meals. He volunteers weekly at the local Boys & Girls Clubs, reaching out to the children who are there and teaching them how to work as a team along with other skills.
He participated in the Salvation Army tornado relief when tornadoes hit the Bradley County community. He was responsible for cutting limbs, picking up trash and helping families re-establish their homes.
His work did not stop there. Sharp is a member of 100 Black Men of Bradley County Inc. There are many occasions when he is involved with teaching the game of basketball to underprivileged kids in summer camps. He works with autistic children at the university’s Developmental Inclusion Center.
Despite his many community related activities, his GPA is consistently the highest on the team. He also goes the extra mile by getting involved with other students in their studies. He is on course to graduate in May 2013.
Coach Tommy Brown said, “Brice is one of the finest young men I have ever coached. He is a team leader on and off the floor. Brice is the leader in making sure our team participates in campus events. He has always been a leader in gathering our team as they are called on to do campus service duties. He takes time to be a volunteer tutor as well as a mentor in the GST classes at Lee. Brice represents our team and our university in so many great ways.”
The Flames tip off play in the national tournament tonight at 9 p.m. They will be pitted against Georgetown College (Ky.) a perennial NAIA power. Play began Wednesday and top-seeded Shorter (Ga.) flexed its muscles with a win over Life (Ga.). Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), a No. 8 seed, was upset by Evangel (Mo.). Tonight’s contest will be aired over 104.1 FM and Stretch Internet.
