University of Minnesota Athletics
Fortunato Named Nissen-Emery Award Finalist
3/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
University of Minnesota gymnast Aaron Fortunato has been named a finalist for the Nissen-Emery Award.
Fortunato is a two-time team captain. He is currently ranked No. 4 in the nation on the high bar and No. 7 in the all-around.
He earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2009 with a fifth-place finish in the all around. Fortunato is outstanding in the classroom as well, earning Academic All-Big Ten honors and College Gymnastics Association All-Academic recognition for three straight years. He holds a 3.77 grade-point average with a civil engineering major.
Since 1966, college gymnastics' highest honor, the Nissen-Emery Award, has been presented annually to that year's outstanding senior collegiate gymnast.
More than simply an award for gymnastics excellence, the Nissen-Emery Award winner must also meet these requirements:
- He must be an example of good sportsmanship and fair play ... a champion in defeat as well as in victory.
- He must maintain a high standard of scholarship throughout his college career.
College gymnastics coaches, student athletes and accredited college gymnastics judges all across the nation are requested each year to submit nominations for the award. Gymnasts receiving the highest number of nominations are then placed on a final ballot and voted upon by those same coaches, athletes and judges.
The award presentation is held annually at the NCAA Gymnastics Championships. The "Heisman Trophy" of gymnastics, the Nissen-Emery Award is inscribed with the following motto: "The true champion seeks excellence physically, mentally, socially and morally."
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Players Mentioned
