Shim Elyia, Centenary College, Men's Soccer - SCAC Character & Community Feature
SHIM ELIYA OF CENTENARY COLLEGE, a senior defender on the men's soccer team from Kigoma, Tanzania, has been selected the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Character and Community Male Student Athlete of the Week for the week beginning April 5.
Lawrenceville, Ga. - SHIM ELIYA OF CENTENARY COLLEGE, a senior defender on the men's soccer team from Kigoma, Tanzania, has been selected the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Character and Community Male Student Athlete of the Week for the week beginning April 5.
The SCAC Character & Community award honors the efforts of student-athletes who excel in the field of athletics, and also serve their campus and community.
Shimirimana Eliya is a long way from his original home of Kigoma, Tanzania in East Africa, but he has certainly found a home at Centenary College.
Eliya, a senior on the men's soccer team and a Biology major, is one of the leaders of the Gents on and off the field. He and his family moved to the United States when he was 10 years old and he attended Amon Carter Riverside High School in Fort Worth, Texas before coming to Centenary. He is part of a large family as he has four brothers and four sisters.
He is a superb student and has twice been named to the SCAC Student-Athlete Academic Honor Roll and has already been accepted into NYU for dental hygienist school and has received a major graduate scholarship. Eliya is busy off the soccer field as he has been active throughout his time at Centenary with The Fuller Center for Housing of Northwest Louisiana and a local dental clinic for underprivileged individuals.
"I have been working at the Fuller Center and help build houses for low-income families. The feeling you get from seeing the smiles on their faces of gratitude just makes you see how meaningful and how impactful your service has been."
"I have also been volunteering at a local dental clinic here in the community where we help underprivileged individuals who cannot afford proper dental care. We help them alleviate their pain and seeing how happy they are afterward just makes the service worthwhile."
"The opportunity to compete with my brothers on the field means the most to me. I think of Centenary as a stepping stone to where I want to go in life. Right now, I am getting the tools and the skills necessary to face my challenges later on."
"The game of soccer has helped me off the field because in general, competing in sports allows you to learn multiple lessons like what it means to push yourself past the point where you feel it is impossible."
"As a collegiate athlete, we face a lot of challenges every day, and there is always more in front of you than what it feels like you can handle."
"I am thrilled that Shimirimana Eliya has been recognized for this honor," said Centenary head men's soccer coach Kyle Symczak.
"Since his first day in the program, Shim has been one of our hardest workers. He has been a starter since his freshman year and has now developed into one of our leaders. Shim is a player that puts the needs of the team first, performs well on the field and has always been a standout in the classroom. Shim has qualified for the Dean's List every year at Centenary, which is a testament to his work rate and willingness to succeed."
"Off the field, he is a pleasure to be around. He is a little quiet at first, but give him time and Shim will have you laughing hysterically with his infectious personality. I have never coached anyone more deserving of this recognition than Shimirimana Eliya. I am proud of him and what he has accomplished here at Centenary."
Eliya wanted it to be known that he recognizes many of his teammates, fellow student-athletes on the Centenary campus, and many other student-athletes like him across the country are doing similar things to help others.
"I want to give a shout out to those doing great things. It is a pleasure and an honor to be featured for this award."
Eliya will undoubtedly go on to do tremendous things in his post-college career and life, and we will take comfort and pride in knowing that he will always have a home at Centenary.
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