Rare Disease Champion

Featured Rare Disease Champion: Taylor de Boer

Rare Disease Champion

Featured Rare Disease Champion: Boone Bonnema

Rare Disease Champion

Featured Rare Disease Champion: Mitch Mason

Nominate a Champion!

  We are looking for our next round of next-generation leaders in college athletics who are actively working to make a positive and lasting impression on the rare disease community. Nominate yourself or someone you know to be considered as a Rare Disease Championâ„¢.

    Relation to Nominee:

    2023 Rare Disease Champions

    Taylor de Boer

    University of Illinois

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    Boone Bonnema

    Western Michigan University

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    Mitch Mason

    University of North Carolina

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    About the Award

    Rare Disease Champion Team

    The Rare Disease Championâ„¢ initiative presented Sanofi is an Uplifting Athletes awareness campaign. This is the 14th year Uplifting Athletes has recognized champions by highlighting leaders in college athletics that have made a positive and lasting impact on people affected by rare diseases.

    Sculpted by world renowned artist Brian Hanlon, the Rare Disease Champion trophy is in the likeness of Mark Herzlich, the former Boston College and current New York Giants linebacker who provided the inspiration for the award after overcoming a life-threatening battle with the rare disease Ewing’s sarcoma in 2009.

    Past Champions

    Aristotle Thompson

    Aristotle Thompson

    University of California, Berkley

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    JD Bertrand

    JD Bertrand

    University of Notre Dame

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    Jenny Cape

    Jenny Cape

    University of Iowa

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    Tylee Craft

    Tylee Craft

    University of North Carolina

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    Peter Snodgrass

    Peter Snodgrass

    Northwestern University

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    Sam Fraley

    Sam Fraley

    Temple University

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    Tyler Lavine

    Tyler Lavine

    Southern Methodist University

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    Zeke Zaragoza

    Zeke Zaragoza

    Oklahoma State University

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    Dillan Gibbons

    Dillan Gibbons

    Florida State University

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    Mac Brown

    Mac Brown

    University of Mississippi

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    Nolan Cooney

    Nolan Cooney

    Syracuse University

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    Rex Culpepper

    Rex Culpepper

    Syracuse University

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    Josephus Smith

    Josephus Smith

    Austin Peay State University

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    David Shaw

    David Shaw

    Stanford University

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    Joe Spivak

    Joe Spivak

    Northwestern University

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    Josh Paschal

    Josh Paschal

    University of Kentucky

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    Anthony Lotti

    Anthony Lotti

    University of Pennsylvania

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    George Hatalowich

    George Hatalowich

    Davidson College

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    Joshua Eargle
    Trophy Winner

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    Joshua Eargle

    Austin Peay State University

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    Ryan Beecher

    Ryan Beecher

    Stanford University

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    Nick Allegretti

    Nick Allegretti

    University of Illinois

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    Sam Heckel

    Sam Heckel

    Syracuse University

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    Antwan Dixon

    Antwan Dixon

    Kent State University

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    Zack Mahoney

    Zack Mahoney

    Syracuse University

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    Casey O'Brien

    Casey O'Brien

    University of Minnesota

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    Shaquem Griffin
    Trophy Winner

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    Shaquem Griffin

    University of Central Florida

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    Jaqwis Dancy

    Jaqwis Dancy

    Louisiana Tech University

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    James Conner

    James Conner

    University of Pittsburgh

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    Mitchell Meyers
    Trophy Winner

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    Mitchell Meyers

    Iowa State University

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    Michael Hirsch

    Michael Hirsch

    University of Michigan

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    Dexter Williams

    Dexter Williams

    University of Notre Dame

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    Zachary Schrieber

    Zachary Schrieber

    Liberty University

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    Mitchell Meyers

    Mitchell Meyers

    Iowa State University

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    Kaleb Germinaro

    Kaleb Germinaro

    University of Pennsylvania

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    Ju'Juan Seider

    Ju'Juan Seider

    West Virginia University

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    Jake Olson
    Trophy Winner

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    Jake Olson

    University of Southern California

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    Marcus Rios

    Marcus Rios

    UCLA

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    Quinterrius Eatmon

    Quinterrius Eatmon

    University of South Florida

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    Marcus Rios

    Marcus Rios

    UCLA

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    Levi Norwood

    Levi Norwood

    Baylor University

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    Sammie Coates
    Trophy Winner

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    Sammie Coates

    Auburn University

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    Greg Stevens

    Greg Stevens

    Eastern Illinois University

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    Dan O'Brien

    Dan O'Brien

    University of Minnesota

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    Trevor Reilly

    Trevor Reilly

    University of Utah

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    Jimbo Fisher

    Jimbo Fisher

    Florida State University

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    Chuck Priore

    Chuck Priore

    Stony Brook University

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    Case McCoy

    Case McCoy

    University of Texas

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    C.J. Zimmerer
    Trophy Winner

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    C.J. Zimmerer

    University of Nebraska

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    Andrew Millmore

    Andrew Millmore

    Fordham University

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    Dillon Reagan

    Dillon Reagan

    Humbodlt State University

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    Eric Shrive
    Trophy Winner

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    Eric Shrive

    Pennsylvania State University

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    Neiron Ball

    Neiron Ball

    University of Florida

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    Frankie Telfort

    Frankie Telfort

    University of Southern California

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    Chris Ferguson

    Chris Ferguson

    United State Naval Academy

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    Austin Woods

    Austin Woods

    University of Oklahoma

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    Luke Gane

    Luke Gane

    UCLA

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    David Lerner

    David Lerner

    University of Florida

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    Rex Burkhead
    Trophy Winner

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    Rex Burkhead

    University of Nebraska

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    Wayne Crawford

    Wayne Crawford

    North Carolina State University

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    Scott Tolzien

    Scott Tolzien

    University of Wisconsin

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    Jerry Kill

    Jerry Kill

    University of Minnesota

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    Jordan Culbreath
    Trophy Winner

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    Jordan Culbreath

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    Derrick Coleman

    Derrick Coleman

    UCLA

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    Dana Bible

    Dana Bible

    North Carolina State University

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    Ian Mitchell
    Trophy Winner

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    Ian Mitchell

    Dickinson College

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    Stanley Hunter

    Stanley Hunter

    Clemson University

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    Wilson Holloway

    Wilson Holloway

    University of Tulsa

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    Matt Szczur

    Matt Szczur

    Villanova University

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    Tom Golarz

    Tom Golarz

    Pennsylvania State University

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    Grant Teaff
    Trophy Winner

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    Grant Teaff

    American Football Coaches Association

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    *Uplifting Athletes began recognizing each team by the year nominations were submitted and the team was announced.