Minisink Valley High School Student Athlete Receives “Giant” Award

The New York Football Giants may not be winning much on the field, but off the field they are and helping a local football program in the process.

A Hudson Valley student athlete and her teammates just received a "Giant" award.

What Is the Heart of a Giant Award?

The New York Giants, along with the Hospital for Special Surgery and USA Football team up every year "to find and highlight Tri-State high school tackle and flag football athletes" this includes student athletes as well as managers, mascots or "other designated student team members who demonstrate that extra something special."

Each year they will accept 60 top nominees and let the public vote online.

As for nominees, they look for a student who values commitment, character, teamwork, dedication. The USA Football website says "When they can't be side by side, when they don't take the fields on Friday nights, who helps keep the team together? That's who we're looking for."

The winner of The Heart Like a Giant Award will win a $10,000 equipment grant for their program. 11 other programs will receive a $1,000 equipment grant as well.

This years grand prize winner is a student athlete from the Hudson Valley.

Minisink Valley Student Athlete Receives Heart Of a Giant Award

Sports Illustrated reports that Minisink Valley High School senior Vanessa Tepper was given the Heart of a Giant Award. Tepper is a flag and tackle football player for Minisink.

During her sophomore year, after a tackle football game, Tepper was rushed to the hospital. She was later diagnosed with an autoimmune blood disorder called ITP. The disorder causes "dangerously low platelet count that can lead to easy bruising and internal bleeding."

After her diagnosis, Tepper had to give up sports for a few months until she was cleared to play again. That same year, Tepper was named the captain of the new Minisink flag football team and lead her team to a 9-1 season.

Giants Linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux was on had to give Tepper her award and take photos with the Minisink Valley flag football team.

Hudson Valley Student Athlete Makes History With Giant Award

According to Sports Illustrated, Tepper winning this award is historic as she is the first flag football player to win the Heart of Giant award and she is also the first female to win too!

Not only did Tepper's win get her Minisink Valley High School flag football and tackle football a $10,000 equipment grant, she was also give tickets to the Super Bowl.