New Haven Teen Is USA Football’s Heart Of A Giant Award Nominee

NEW HAVEN, CT — New Haven’s Nathan Testa has been nominated for USA Football’s Heart of a Giant Award, presented by the Hospital for Special Surgery and the New York Giants.

"These outstanding Tri-State area high school football players, mascots, team managers, flag football players etc. have all been nominated for the award by their coaches for their commitment, teamwork, will, character, and dedication," a news release reads.

Testa was nominated for his "courage."

"Nathan was born with bilateral club foot, a condition that required a series of corrective surgeries and procedures just days after birth. All through childhood, he needed to continue treatments to help him heal. While the procedures were a success, the impact it had on him still limits his mobility. Despite this, Nathan has never missed a weight training session in four years at Hopkins."

The voting period for Week 4 nominees is open until Sunday, Oct. 13. The final vote tally determines who will be named the weekly group’s finalist.

At the end of the six-week voting process, six finalists and five others based on work ethic and character will be named, for a total of 11 finalist honorees. Each finalist will receive $1,000 grant for their high school’s football program, with the grand prize winner’s school getting an additional $9,000 equipment grant. The grand prize winner and his coach will be honored on the field at a future New York Giants game this season. The grand prize winner will be selected based on video submissions stating why they have the Heart of a Giant.

For more information on the program, click here.