SUWANEE, Ga. - The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference announced today the six finalists for the 2023 SCAC Man of the Year award. The award recognizes the conference's senior male student-athlete who has best distinguished himself throughout his collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence and service and leadership. Past Winners

Member schools were permitted to submit two nominations if at least one of the nominees was a man of color or international student-athlete.

Austin College men's tennis player Tate Nelson is one of this year's finalists, with the winner to be announced on July 13. Nelson, a senior from The Colony, wrapped up his career this spring as a two-time Carroll Pickett Award winner as the top Austin College men's tennis player, while also being named this year's Bo Miller Award winner after finishing his four years with a 3.98 grade-point-average, the highest among all graduating male student-athletes this year. Nelson earned his degree in mathematics, and was a member of the Austin College Dean's List and the SCAC Academic Honor Roll each year of his career. He was also named a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honoree.

In addition to his accolades in the classroom and for his performance on the court, Nelson was also a two-time SCAC All-Sportsmanship Team member, and served as a team captain for the 'Roo tennis team. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Chi Alpha Sigma in recognition of his outstanding academic successes, and was also recognized as the men's tennis team's Sig Lawson Award winner this year. 

Nelson has been active in community service projects both on campus and off, including working with Friends of the Colony, Operation Christmas, the Fire Hydrant Restoration Project, Metro Relief, Lost Paws, Adopt-a-Street, Closet Ministry, Scouting for Food, and he's also worked with TC Senior Citizens Center and was a Lovepacs Volunteer. Nelson is an Eagle Scout, and has volunteered with Austin College's 'Roo Boo.