Category: Arts & Culture

Due to the challenges presented by the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, the Sunshine State Conference Presidents Council has decided to cancel conference competition and championships for the fall sports of soccer and volleyball and for the winter sport of swimming during the 2020-21 academic year. Conference institutions may practice and compete in these sports during the spring 2021 semester as a matter of institutional discretion. In the fall sport of cross country, which is a low transmission risk sport as defined by the NCAA, the SSC intends to conduct a conference championship season during the spring 2021 semester, with no overnight travel and competition against conference teams only, provided health and safety conditions support such activity.

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Voted upon by league administrators and head coaches, former Nova Southeastern midfielder Emma Heikkila was officially named as a first-team member of the Sunshine State Conference Women’s Soccer All-Decade Team on Wednesday.

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NSU Department of Athletics is honored to announce the Chancellor Ray Ferrero, Jr. NSU Athletic Degree Completion Endowed Scholarship Fund, which was created to support scholarships for student-athletes who have completed their athletic eligibility but have yet to complete their undergraduate degrees.

“Our student-athletes are among our greatest ambassadors!” expressed Chancellor Ray Ferrero, Jr., J.D. “Having said that, I believe we, as an academic community, have an obligation to see that they are able to complete their degree requirements even though they may have exhausted their athletic eligibility. By establishing this endowment, it is my hope that others – alumni, friends, NSU supporters and the university itself – will join in this mission.”

In December 2019, NSU Athletics Advisory Council hosted an intimate reception with close friends and supporters of Shark Athletics during a rooftop reception at Andy’s Live Fire Grill & Bar. The event honored Chancellor Ferrero’s considerable contribution and lead gift to establish the endowment fund.

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As the Sharks begin the 2020-21 academic year, Nova Southeastern Director of Athletics Michael Mominey has expanded his commitment to providing leadership not only on campus, but at the local, conference and national levels, through three significant organizational governance positions this year.

A perpetual community supporter of many programs throughout Broward County and in South Florida, Mominey was unanimously elected as a Corporate Board Member for the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County. In this role, Mominey will not only contribute to board decisions alongside other influencers in Broward County, but will also play a significant role aiding philanthropic efforts and providing leadership, guidance and support to ensure a brighter future for the children of Broward County. The Boys and Girls Club of Broward County has a proud legacy and strong list of impactful leaders with a mission to provide life-enhancing programs and character development experiences for young people, who according to their mission statement, “enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens.”

Mominey will continue his national board work on the Board of Directors for NACDA’s Division II Athletic Directors Association (D2 ADA) in representation of the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) during a pivotal time within the world of intercollegiate athletics. He will work alongside 23 other elected athletic directors from all conferences nationwide to make the appropriate decisions for the division in the coming year.

In addition, Mominey began his term on July 1 as the Chairperson of the SSC Athletic Directors, taking the leadership role among the league’s 11 athletic directors, while serving in an advisory role to the Conference Commissioner throughout the year. Working closely in concert with the Commissioner and the Presidents of each SSC institution, the Sharks AD will lead the league’s directors through many crucial decisions during the course of the next two years.

“I am honored and humbled to serve in these roles within these prestigious organizations,” Mominey said. “Hopefully my experience will allow me to successfully contribute in a positive way and impact young people beyond the scope of NSU. I have always considered myself as a servant leader who has had the great fortune to be around other great leaders during my tenure at NSU – and now it’s my turn. Personally, and professionally, having a seat at the table with these organizations will affirm my commitment and passion for our community and our university.”

Opening up his 20th academic year in the leader seat for the Sharks, Mominey was elevated to Director of Athletics in 2002 while serving as the program’s head baseball coach. Under his leadership, the Sharks have garnered eight team NCAA Division II National Championships, 23 individual NCAA Division II National Championships, 16 South Regional Championships and 37 SSC titles. In addition to the athletic prowess and alignment with the departmental mission of a student-centered approach, the Sharks always deliver in the classroom under Mominey’s guidance. The Sharks recorded a 3.33 departmental GPA this past academic year, marking the eighth straight year with the program exceeding 3.15 and the 18th consecutive year with a 3.00 or better.

He has overseen NSU’s move from the NAIA to NCAA Division II status and gaining membership into the SSC, as well as pushing the program’s mascot from Knights to the modern-day Sharks in 2004-05.

Mominey has also served on the Orange Bowl Committee since 2004 and is an Honorary Board member for the Special Olympics of Broward County. He’s made significant contributions to the community organizations of South Florida through direct involvement with multiple groups, including Miracle League, Junior Achievement of Broward County and the Dan Marino Foundation – among many. At the national level, Mominey has mentored young administrations through the NCAA Pathway Program and has served as the South Region Chair for the NCAA Division II National Baseball Committee.

The winter semester provided more evidence that nothing can stop a determined Shark, as NSU student-athletes not only extended the program’s gold-standard academic tradition, but showed perseverance in excelling at record levels in spite of this semester’s obstacles. The Sharks produced a program-wide 3.40 grade point average for the program’s highest winter semester mark, coupling with the fall’s 3.27 to earn the highest annual departmental GPA on record at 3.33. (FULL STORY)

 

The winter semester provided more evidence that nothing can stop a determined Shark, as NSU student-athletes not only extended the program’s gold-standard academic tradition, but showed perseverance in excelling at record levels in spite of this semester’s obstacles. The Sharks produced a program-wide 3.40 grade point average for the program’s highest winter semester mark, coupling with the fall’s 3.27 to earn the highest annual departmental GPA on record at 3.33.

Of NSU’s 17 NCAA Division II intercollegiate programs, 16 squads posted a 3.0 or higher team GPA, with 80 percent of student-athletes individually exceeding a 3.0. Closing out the 2019-20 academic year with a perfect semester, a program-record 38 student-athletes garnered a 4.00 GPA and 59 Shark student-athletes graduated during the 2019-20 academic year. There were 90 student-athletes who earned a spot on the NSU Director’s List above a 3.80 GPA, while 223 Sharks were named Scholar Athletes with a GPA of 3.25 or better.

“While this semester proved to be unusual and filled with unexpected challenges, it should come as no surprise that our Shark student-athletes again demonstrated their determination and resilience with their record-setting academic performances,” Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Services and Student-Athlete Support Rachel Fineberg said. “I am so proud of each and every one of our student-athletes for their commitment to academic excellence. Congratulations to our recent Shark graduates! We look forward to the day that we can welcome you home and celebrate with you and your loved ones.”

The Shark leaders in the winter hailed from women’s swimming with an NSU-high 3.68 GPA for a new program semester-best, en route to a new top annual GPA. Taking the lead spot for the fifth consecutive semester, the men’s soccer team also posted its best academic year to date thanks to a 3.56 winter semester GPA that again paced all men’s programs.

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