Leadership, Servide Make This Passaic Co. Athlete A 'Heart Of A Giant' Nominee

PATERSON, NJ — A Paterson Eastside High School football player is being honored for his leadership both on and off the field, and his service through his church community — and has the chance to be honored at a New York Giants.

Lineman Justin Kimutai is a nominee for USA Football’s Heart of a Giant Award, presented by the Hospital for Special Surgery and the New York Giants.

Kimutai, who was named to the all-Passaic County and all-division first teams last year, is also a sergeant in his school's ROTC program and is a dedicated member of his church community.

In his self-submitted nomination, Kimutai said he makes sure his teammates are in high spirits at every practice, "to make sure they are in the best position to be the best player and person they can be."

"Since I was a kid my parents took me to church, so I’ve always been around high-spirited people so being around that environment always kept me in high spirits," he explained.

Kimutai is also part of the Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology's Trendsetters program, where students in grades 8-12 visit younger students to build reading skills and encourage them along their school journeys.

And, his involvement in the church choir, food drives, and Sunday school gave him another leadership opportunity — being the youth Sunday school president.

Kimutai could win a grant for his high school football team, and could be honored at a future Giants game alongside his coach, if he is voted as one of the top nominees from a list of area students.

"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 from USA Football reads.

Kamutai is a Week 3 nominee, meaning voting will stay open through Sunday, Oct. 6. If you want to vote for him, click here.

The final vote tally determines who will be named the weekly group’s finalist.

At the end of the 6-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/her 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.