Northwestern University Athletics
Snodgrass Named to 2021 Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Team
12/7/2021 11:56:00 AM | Football
Philadelphia, Pa. (December 6, 2021) – Uplifting Athletes is pleased to announce Northwestern University long snapper Peter Snodgrass is a member of the 2021 Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Team.
For more than a dozen years, Uplifting Athletes has celebrated leaders in college football that have made a positive and lasting impact on the Rare Disease Community through its Rare Disease Champion initiative.
Uplifting Athletes is honored to have the opportunity to share Snodgrass' inspiring rare disease story.
Joining Snodgrass on the 2021 Uplifting Rare Disease Champion Team are: Ole Miss punter Mac Brown, Florida State offensive lineman Dillan Gibbons, Temple long snapper Sam Fraley, SMU running back Tyler Lavine and Oklahoma State long snapper Zeke Zaragoza.
"The 2021 Rare Disease Champion Team represents some of the most high character student-athletes in college football. These individuals have shown fearlessness in the face of adversity, thoughtlessness in a world of selfishness, and compassion to those facing unimaginable challenges," Uplifting Athletes Executive Director Rob Long said. "It is our honor to recognize these individuals that have gone above and beyond to be a beacon of hope for the Rare Disease Community."
Each member of the 2021 Rare Disease Champion Team will be honored and celebrated during the Uplifting Athletes Young Investigator Draft on Saturday, February 5, 2022 at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles.
Nominees for the award were solicited from any NCAA FBS, FCS, Division II or Division III institution or college football program nationwide.
Syracuse punter Nolan Cooney, Stanford head coach David Shaw, Northwestern defensive lineman Joe Spivak, Austin Peay defensive lineman Josephus Smith and Syracuse quarterback Rex Culpepper comprised the 2020 Rare Disease Champion Team.
Past Rare Disease Champion winners consist of seven FBS players including USC long snapper Jake Olson (2016), UCF linebacker Shaquem Griffin (2018) and Auburn wide receiver Sammie Coates (2015), one FCS player, a Division III quarterback, two FBS assistant coaches and an administrator from AFCA.
The Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Team is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA includes the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935.
About Uplifting Athletes
A nonprofit organization founded in 2007, Uplifting Athletes inspires the Rare Disease Community with hope through the power of sport. A rare disease is one that affects fewer than 200,000 Americans and typically lacks financial incentive to make and market new treatments. Uplifting Athletes fulfills its mission through a network of college football student-athlete led chapters, Uplifting Ambassadors and Team UA participants.
Since its inception, Uplifting Athletes has raised more than $6 million to develop Uplifting Leaders, create Uplifting Experiences, fund rare disease research and expand rare disease awareness. To learn more about Uplifting Athletes visit upliftingathletes.org
For more than a dozen years, Uplifting Athletes has celebrated leaders in college football that have made a positive and lasting impact on the Rare Disease Community through its Rare Disease Champion initiative.
Uplifting Athletes is honored to have the opportunity to share Snodgrass' inspiring rare disease story.
Joining Snodgrass on the 2021 Uplifting Rare Disease Champion Team are: Ole Miss punter Mac Brown, Florida State offensive lineman Dillan Gibbons, Temple long snapper Sam Fraley, SMU running back Tyler Lavine and Oklahoma State long snapper Zeke Zaragoza.
"The 2021 Rare Disease Champion Team represents some of the most high character student-athletes in college football. These individuals have shown fearlessness in the face of adversity, thoughtlessness in a world of selfishness, and compassion to those facing unimaginable challenges," Uplifting Athletes Executive Director Rob Long said. "It is our honor to recognize these individuals that have gone above and beyond to be a beacon of hope for the Rare Disease Community."
Each member of the 2021 Rare Disease Champion Team will be honored and celebrated during the Uplifting Athletes Young Investigator Draft on Saturday, February 5, 2022 at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles.
Nominees for the award were solicited from any NCAA FBS, FCS, Division II or Division III institution or college football program nationwide.
Syracuse punter Nolan Cooney, Stanford head coach David Shaw, Northwestern defensive lineman Joe Spivak, Austin Peay defensive lineman Josephus Smith and Syracuse quarterback Rex Culpepper comprised the 2020 Rare Disease Champion Team.
Past Rare Disease Champion winners consist of seven FBS players including USC long snapper Jake Olson (2016), UCF linebacker Shaquem Griffin (2018) and Auburn wide receiver Sammie Coates (2015), one FCS player, a Division III quarterback, two FBS assistant coaches and an administrator from AFCA.
The Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Team is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA includes the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935.
About Uplifting Athletes
A nonprofit organization founded in 2007, Uplifting Athletes inspires the Rare Disease Community with hope through the power of sport. A rare disease is one that affects fewer than 200,000 Americans and typically lacks financial incentive to make and market new treatments. Uplifting Athletes fulfills its mission through a network of college football student-athlete led chapters, Uplifting Ambassadors and Team UA participants.
Since its inception, Uplifting Athletes has raised more than $6 million to develop Uplifting Leaders, create Uplifting Experiences, fund rare disease research and expand rare disease awareness. To learn more about Uplifting Athletes visit upliftingathletes.org
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