ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Michael Brown, a senior on the Golden Flyers' cross country and track and field teams, has been named the 2020-21 Empire 8 Male Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year, based on a vote by the conference Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs). The award honors one male student-athlete who best exemplify what it means to be a dedicated scholar and athlete over the course of their collegiate careers.
 
Brown, of Syracuse, N.Y., emerged as a valuable member of the Golden Flyers' cross country squad that had its season moved to the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He placed seventh at the 2021 Empire 8 Spring Cross Country Championships on April 9 to help Nazareth claim its first-ever conference title. Brown earned All-Empire 8 first team accolades for his performance. He showed steady improvement at the league championship in all four seasons as a student-athlete, finishing 34th overall in 2017, 21st in 2018, 19th in 2019 and seventh in April.
 
A three-year team captain, Brown was also named Nazareth's Most Improved Player on the Cross Country team in 2017, the Empire 8 Sportsman of the Year that same season and garnered All-Empire 8 second team honors in 2019.
 
"Since Michael has been at Nazareth, his work ethic and leadership capabilities have not only been outstanding, but he has also raised the standard for his teammates and the program," said Mike Heymann, Associate Head Coach of the Cross Country and Track and Field programs at Nazareth. "Michael has far exceeded any expectations that I had for his collegiate career, not because of some undiscovered ability, but because of his drive and superb work ethic. He has earned the respect of the coaching staff and has served as the foundation of the growing culture of the Nazareth Cross Country and Track and Field programs."
 
Brown has also excelled on the track for the Golden Flyers and has the fourth fastest time in program history in the 10,000-meters (33:29.10).
 
"Michael is an inspiring individual," said Empire 8 Commissioner Chuck Mitrano. "He is proof that hard work pays off and is also a product of the important role that intercollegiate athletics plays in higher education. These are things you cannot learn in a classroom that prepare individuals for success upon graduation. His discipline, work ethic and accountability to himself and the team have been extraordinary."
 
Brown recently earned his bachelor's degree in health sciences from Nazareth, while carrying a 3.852 cumulative grade-point average. Brown was a six-time member of the Empire 8 President's List for student-athletes with GPAs of 3.75 and was Nazareth's Scholar Athlete of the Month in October 2018.
 
"Michael's growth as a student-athlete is remarkable," said Katie Burakowski of St. John Fisher College, who serves as chair of the conference's Faculty Athletic Representatives. "To evolve from someone who did not meet the athletic performance recruiting standards as an incoming freshman to a runner who was named to the Empire 8 First Team All-Conference Cross Country team all while thriving as a Health Sciences major with a Psychology minor is truly amazing.  It's obvious that Michael is interested in learning from others and working to improve his own performance all while bettering the team."

Brown will be returning to Nazareth to compete again in the fall since he was awarded an extra year of eligibility due to the pandemic. He also will continue to work toward a doctorate degree in Physical Therapy.
 
2020-21 Empire 8 Male Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year Finalists
Cameron Sanderson, Elmira College – Soccer
John Steinman, Hartwick College – Football
Daniel Myers, Houghton College – Soccer
Michael Brown, Nazareth College – Cross Country, Track and Field