THOMASVILLE- While the Night Hawk may be the mascot for Thomas University athletics, the spirit of the athletic department revolves around character. The Oxford dictionary defines character as’ “the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.”
The vision of National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Champions of Character program is to change the culture of sport. Its mission is to provide training to instill the values that build character so students, coaches and parents know, do and value the right thing on and off the field. The Champions of Character program helps participants find the balance by keeping five core values – integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership – at the heart of the athletics experience.
Within the framework of the NAIA’s Sun Conference, Thomas competes in a combined fifteen men’s and women’s sports. During the 2022-23 season, the Night Hawks were able to claim six Champion of Character Awards, in those fifteen sports, or 40% of the awards that Thomas was eligible to receive. Take a look at each of the Night Hawk Champions of Character.
JENNIFER COLEMAN — WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK
Jennifer Coleman is Thomas’ first female track student-athlete to receive this prestigious conference award. Coleman is a four-year member of the Thomas University women’s indoor and outdoor track & field teams. Coleman currently holds six school records: Indoor and Outdoor Shot put, Discus, Hammer, Weight Throw and Javelin; which marks the most records in program history by an athlete. Coleman is also a SUN Conference Scholar-Athlete and has been named to the All-Conference team numerous times. In addition to her success in the circle, she has been named SUN Conference Player of the Week twice in her career.
Outside of the circle, Coleman has been involved in several community service projects such as Hands-on-Thomas County and Project Backyard. Additionally, she has picked up internships throughout the years which include BUDK Worldwide and the Valdosta Daily Times Newspaper to expand her knowledge in the multimedia world.
In the classroom, Coleman is a Film Major with a minor in Psychology, Creative Writing and Communication. Additionally, Coleman holds a 3.64 GPA and has been named the Dean’s list and President’s list at Thomas University.
In addition to being a member of our track & field team Coleman also is a part of the TU Sports Information Department as a student assistant. Coleman serves as the primary contact for numerous sports in the athletic department. She is also responsible for managing athletic social media pages, photography, videography, creative content, article writing, statistical data, game day operations and SUN conference responsibilities. As a member of the Athletic Communications department, Jennifer has been able to assist with several events for Thomas University which included the 2021, 2022, and 2023 SUN Conference Softball tournament in Clearwater, FL, the 2022 and 2023 SUN Conference Flag Football tournament and National Tournament, the 2022 SUN Conference Men’s and Women’s Soccer Quarterfinal round and the 2022 NAIA National Cross Country Championship.
JUSTIN TOMISON — MEN’S INDOOR TRACK
Justin Tomison became the first male track student-athlete in program history to receive the award. Tomison, a third year member of the Thomas University Cross Country and Track and Field teams. This past fall Tominson became the first TU cross-country athlete to earn First Team All-Conference honors in the sport. He also qualified for the NAIA National Cross-Country Meet during the season. He is involved with Goal Line Ministries, a Fellowship of Christian athletes organization at TU. He is part of the leadership team that organizes and sets up monthly events for TU students.
Tomison has accomplished several accolades in his time at Thomas. The Buxton, ME native currently holds the school record in the 3000 and 5000 meter runs (indoors). Tomison is a six-time indoor all-conference member and three-time outdoor all-conference member.
JORDAN BOOKER — MEN’S BASKETBALL
Jordan Booker is a graduate student with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.6, earning a 4.0 in the Fall. Booker is Pursuing a Master’s in the Art of Teaching with a focus on Elementary Education, placing him in elementary classrooms teaching 30-40 hours a week. He is in Goal-Line Ministries, similar to Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and one of Thomas University Faculty and Staff’s favorite students on campus. Booker earned three post-season award from the Sun Conference this season, including being named to the All-Academic Team and was selected on the Men’s Basketball, All-Conference First Team.
Head Coach Colin Cotter stated that Booker is a great leader for the Night Hawks and the University. Cotter went on to say that Booker resembles the Champion of Character very well and that he was glad the Booker was a part of the Night Hawks team and program. Booker stated, “A champion isn’t made of muscle. A champion is made of heart!”
JANAE SCOTT — FLAG FOOTBALL
Thomas’s Janae Scott is a two-sport athlete, maintaining a 4.0 GPA in Exercise Science. Scott is a student mental health ambassador helping to bring a counseling center to TU. The junior volunteers at a county animal shelter, serves hot meals to the homeless and helps as an assistant coach to a youth team. Scott is a mentor to the Freshman and was the 2022 SUN Defensive Player of the Year and helped lead this year’s team to the Sun Conference Regular Season Championship, Sun Conference Tournament Championship, and help lead the Night Hawks to become the NAIA National Runner-Up.
DEVIN CREWS — MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK
Devin Crews was the first male track & field signee at Thomas University in 2019, Crews ended his four-year track & field career at the Sun Conference Championships when he anchored the TU men’s 4×400 relay to a first-place finish with a National Qualifying and School Record time of 3:17.35. He also earned All-Conference honors as he led off the 4×800 relay (3rd place) with another school record performance. Crews has competed in the 200, 400, 600, 800, 4×100, 4×400, and the 4×800 events as well as cross country (as a freshman) and holds school records in: 4×400 and 4×800 meter relay teams and number two all-time in the 400 meters.
He received his Bachelor’s degree this past May and became the first four-year undergraduate in school history of the Thomas University Track and Field Team. He has worked two part-time jobs, RA (resident assistant-3 years), and Active Soles Running Company (4 years) while at TU in addition to being an outstanding student-athlete for the Night Hawks.
BRYCE BITTING — BASEBALL
Bryce Bitting is a member of the Leadership group within Goalline Ministries, a non-denominational Christian organization that serves the students of Thomas University. He also plays in the student-led band that plays at Thomas’ monthly Survivor events (a Goalline Ministries function for student-athletes). Bitting also started and leads a weekly bible study for the baseball team, and anyone else that wants to attend. Bitting volunteers often for his local church back home in Taveras, Fla.
