Shields, Fowler Created Their Own Paths to Success

Video: Shavon Shields   Video: Mattie Fowler

A Night at the Lied: 2015-16 Award Winners

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Randy York N-Sider

Official Blog of the Huskers

Shavon Shields and Mattie Fowler were named Nebraska’s 2016 Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year Sunday night. They are also modern-day pathfinders who didn’t follow in anyone’s footsteps except their own. Small wonder why the parents of both honorees are so pleased and proud.

Shields barely made it to Sunday’s “Night at the Lied” recognition event in downtown Lincoln after flying back to Nebraska following a four-day invitational tournament in Virginia that could enhance his chances to play professional basketball.

Unfortunately, Fowler missed yet another major event in softball’s merry-go-round world Sunday because her team needed 11 innings to beat Northwestern in Evanston, Ill., spoiling the opportunity for Fowler and four fellow seniors to catch a flight from Chicago and experience the capstone to the four-year captain’s highly decorated career.

Fowler Missed Last Year’s Commencement and This Year’s Night at the Lied

A year ago, Fowler was unable to attend her commencement exercises at Pinnacle Bank Arena because she was on the road with her teammates at the Big Ten Conference Softball Tournament in Columbus, Ohio.

Such is the hectic life of an MBA student and Husker super senior who also happens to be a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, past president of Nebraska’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner, Hero Leadership Award winner, Nebraska’s Big Ten representative and a three-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.

Shields is equally equipped with accomplishments that include First-Team Academic All-America honors in 2015 and 2016, a three-time Arthur Ashe Academic Award winner, a four-time team captain like Fowler, a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner, Hero Leadership Award winner and three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.

Fowler and Shields pursued their respective paths to excellence through determined action while accepting massive challenges that created real and measurable confidence in everything they seemed to take on.

Shavon’s Parents Encouraged, Inspired Shields to Chase His Own Dreams

Shields (pictured above) arrived in Lincoln from Kansas City, where Will Shields, his father, became a Pro Football Hall-of-Famer, the exclamation point after his College Football Hall-of-Fame status and legendary career that featured an Outland Trophy.

With gigantic footsteps like those, Shields’ parents were smart to inspire their hard-working, multi-faceted son to chase his own dreams, not his father’s. Shavon proved and seized the strategic significance of that approach because he inherently understood that finding a path with no obstacles probably doesn’t lead anywhere.

Shields credits his father for that pearl of wisdom. “Sports and academics have always gone hand-in-hand to me,” Shavon said. “From an early age, I knew there was no way for me to get to the level I wanted to be at if my academics and grades were not in order. From youth to college, athletics offered me the opportunity to be part of something larger than myself and through that, I could develop skills and have lifelong friendships with my coaches and teammates.”

Historic Honor: Nebraska Basketball’s Initial First-Team Academic All-American

Talk about blazing trails. Nebraska men’s basketball never claimed a First-Team Academic All-American until Shields came to Lincoln. Only five student-athletes receive first-team Academic All-America status and Shields has reached that lofty goal twice as both a junior and a senior.

Shields didn’t achieve his 3.723 cumulative grade point average in his biological sciences major without structure, consistency and commitment to meet such demands as biochemistry, molecular biology and organic chemistry

Shavon’s parents were in the Lied Center when their son and Fowler were announced as Nebraska’s 2016 Student-Athletes of the Year, plus the male and female Big Ten Medal of Honor winners that match that accomplishment.

Fowler Showcased Professionalism, Savvy with Internships in Omaha, Lincoln

A Finance major who achieved a 3.807 cumulative GPA as an undergrad and has a 4.0 GPA in graduate school, Fowler (whose mother is pictured above reading her daughter's acceptance speech) has taken advantage of every opportunity available. Two years ago, she had an internship with Union Pacific in Omaha and last summer, she served an internship with the Nebraska State High School Sports Hall of Fame Foundation in Lincoln.

Leaders in both organizations rave about Fowler’s drive, determination, discernment and professionalism. She’s fundamentally sound, thinks outside the box and has a remarkable ability to listen and then solve problems.

“My time as a student-athlete has been the most critical and influential time in my life,” Fowler said. “I’m so thankful for the intercollegiate athletics experience, which has transformed me into a leader and a strong, independent woman."

College Athletics Grind Affected Fowler, Physically, Mentally and Emotionally

“Each day, I’ve been challenged by coaches and teammates to step outside my comfort zone to reach new heights,” Fowler said, admitting that “being a student-athlete has worn me down physically, mentally and emotionally at times, but the process has made me stronger.”

Two knee reconstructions validate Fowler’s ability to overcome adversity, and her TeamMates mentoring experience taught her the importance of servant leadership. “My time as a softball captain and president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee ignited a passion for teamwork and personal development,” she said.

Fowler and Shields immerse themselves into the rigor of academic excellence and relentless athletic improvement, yet still find the time to embrace Nebraska’s nationally prominent Life Skills program, so they can view the world through the lens of helping others. If you want to know how difficult it is to tackle those three critical areas on a consistent basis, ask their professors how hard it is.

Organic Chemistry Professor: Shields Exceeded Standards, Blazed Own Trail

“Shavon has exceeded the standards of those before him and has blazed his own trail along the way, said Chris McCune, who taught his organic chemistry class during Shields' sophomore season. “He’s an excellent STUDENT-athlete. He doesn’t ride on his family’s Husker roots. I’ve never seen him grumble about hard work. He’s extremely grounded, very humbled and one of the most respectful students I’ve had at Nebraska.”

Fowler receives an equally compelling endorsement from Dr. Alok Kumar, associate professor of marketing. “I rate Maddie among the top 2 or 3 percent of the graduate students I’ve interacted with,” Kumar said. “I can say with utmost confidence that Mattie possesses excellent analytical skills and exhibits a thoughtful approach to complex issues.”

Yes, college athletics can be a jungle, but Nebraska’s newest Student-Athletes of the Year are highly focused leaders. Somehow, they’ve carved their respective ways through the thorns that come with academic and athletic excellence and still found time to open their hearts and show their souls for others in need.

Mattie is known for her grace, class and excellence. Shavon is known for his focus, leadership by example and time management that also has enabled him to make Allstate’s prestigious NABA (National Association of Basketball Coaches) Good Works Team.

Shields Down to Earth; Multi-Tasker Fowler Represented 600 Student-Athletes

“Shavon is a simple, down-to-earth student,” said organic chemistry teacher McCune. “I’ve watched him take on the responsibility that comes with being a role model. He interacts with fans and embraces a young boy (Avery Harriman) who is fighting and surviving a terrible illness. To me, he demonstrates what it means to be a true student-athlete.”

Fowler is equally adept at multi-tasking. She developed a “Notable Nebraskans” exhibit, established a social media presence and organized a major Hall of Fame event as a volunteer intern. As president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, she led 600 student-athletes representing 24 teams and evaluated student-athlete welfare and NCAA legislation. Her experiences also include UNL Character Council, Inner Circle with Husker alumni and speaking to 3,000 middle school students about leadership.

One of only five players with 1,500 points and 600 rebounds in Nebraska basketball history, Shields epitomizes a high sense of discipline and work ethic. “My parents were adamant that school always came before sports,” he said, “so I knew that my efforts in academics was the only way I would be allowed to continue to play basketball.

“The last four years have encompassed some of the most beautiful and exciting days of my life and some of the most painful and excruciating,” Shields said. “Each has taught me toughness, compassion, perseverance and the ultimate respect for those that came before me and those that will come after me.”

Coach Rhonda Revelle and CBA associate dean Donna Dudley flank Mattie Fowler, who earned her degree in Finance last May.

Yes, Fowler Wrote Her Acceptance Speech on the Bus Headed to the Airport

Not surprisingly, Fowler was asked to write an acceptance speech, so she sat down on the bus headed to the airport, opened her laptop and pounded away at remarkable speed. Her words, thoughts and presentation were spot on, and now that you know the rest of the story, you might wonder if there will be another makeup ceremony.

My guess is no, but I wouldn’t necessarily rule out the possibility. Mattie Fowler is substantive in everything she does, and what she wrote on the bus Sunday night is as good as it gets, even if it was a pressurized view from a young woman, and please listen to Rhonda Revelle, her coach. “I’m so happy,” Revelle said, “to see an unbelievable person recognized for simply being her best self.”

That’s the essence of Mattie Fowler, who reminds herself every day to “Strive for greatness and leave a legacy.”

Shields embraces that same approach, and to be perfectly honest, those seven words – Strive for greatness and leave a legacy – could be a worthy and inspirational daily devotion for anyone and everyone who wants to succeed in academics, athletics and life.

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