ANNVILLE, Pa. (Conference News) – The Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) has announced Fairleigh Dickinson University – Florham Campus senior Joey Nigro as the 2023 recipients of the MAC Giant Steps Award.
The MAC Giant Steps Award is presented to individuals who have overcome adversity while still succeeding in life, who use sports as a vehicle for positive social change, who break down barriers to provide opportunities to those who follow behind them, and individuals who inspire us to do great things using the positive aspects of sport.
Nigro is the third FDU-Florham student-athlete to earn this prestigious award joining Darryl Campbell (football – 2017) and David Aronowitz (baseball – 2005).
Nigro was a two-year starter on the FDU-Florham men’s basketball team and was an integral part of the Devils first playoff appearance since 2014 in his freshman year, despite being picked to finish last in the preseason coaches’ poll. As his sophomore year was finishing, on May 1, 2021, Nigro was diagnosed with Stage 2B Hodgkin's Lymphoma. While Nigro fought hard and is now cancer-free, unfortunately his basketball career as a player has come to an end. He has moved a few seats down the bench and transitioned to being a Student Assistant Coach on the staff. In this role, Nigro helps with practice and game preparations and provides great mentorship to the FDU-Florham men’s basketball student-athletes.
“Joey was an absolute joy to coach,” said FDU-Florham men’s basketball head coach Jeff Slanovec. “Joey is a team first player who was willing to do whatever it took to help us win and someone who you didn't have to worry about in the classroom, as evidenced by his near 3.8 GPA. Seeing Joey fight his fight and now pour his heart and soul into helping those fight and win the same fight that he did makes me incredibly proud as his coach.”
Far more impressive is what Joey has done off the court, helping others fight the terrible disease that he was able to win his fight against. During his battle, Joey led the charge to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), opening a team for the LLS Light The Night walk, where Team Joseph raised more than $17,000. It was there, where Joey was asked to be recognized as one of the LLS's Honored Heroes of the event. Joey then took it to the next level, starting the Fightstrong Foundation (FSF), a non-profit organization that aims at helping to improve the quality of life for those battling cancer.
The first FSF event, the organization’s inaugural golf tournament, was held in August 2022. Over 115 golfers and 48 sponsors participated and nearly $20,000 was raised. This year's event is scheduled for July.
The FDU-Florham men’s basketball program has also worked with the FSF to "Purple Out" the gym for a home game each year where the FSF collects donations and sells purple FSF wristbands. In just a year of existence, the FSF has been able to support five families as well as some individuals who have needed some emotional support, donating iPad's, Nintendo Switches, televisions and gift cards to those in need.
Last December, the FSF donated four televisions and three video game systems to the Pediatrics Unit of Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, where Joey received his chemotherapy treatments.
“One of the coolest things for Joey was upon carting the gifts into the office, one of the children asked if Joey could even stick around longer to play with him, said Slanovec. “Sure enough, Joey hung around and the two faced off in a game of Madden.”
Joey’s impact on the greater community after going through what he did has made him a true inspiration and well-deserved honoree of the 2023 MAC Giant Steps Award. For more information about the award and to see previous winners of the honor, visit gomacsports.com.