The New York Giants, USA Football and Hospital for Special Surgery partner every year to recognize 60 high school students in the Tri-State Area who possess a unique love of football, while demonstrating the game's core character values of leadership, selflessness, work ethic and resilience. Eleven finalists are chosen from that group to be on the Heart of a Giant Team, with one winner being selected to receive the Heart of a Giant Award. This year's Heart of a Giant Award winner is Vanessa Tepper of Minisink Valley High School in Slate Hill, N.Y.

As quarterback and captain of the Minisink Valley Girl's Flag Football Team, she helped lead her team to a 9-1 inaugural season as a sophomore and an 11-1 season in her junior year. Outside of football, Tepper has excelled as the goalie and captain of the varsity soccer team, while also being a distinguished varsity wrestler and dancer. Tepper's academic accomplishments are equally impressive, as she maintains a 4.0 GPA despite taking advanced classes, is a member of the National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, and has achieved High Honor Roll every quarter. She has completed an impressive 26 college credits while still in high school.

Tepper is deeply involved in her community, volunteering at a local food kitchen and refereeing and coaching in her local youth flag football league, while also working a part-time job on weekends. She has been recognized for her leadership and community service with awards such as the Sojourner Truth Award and a spot on the Junior Leadership Committee of Orange County.

Tepper's love of football began at a very young age. Growing up around all boys, Tepper never wanted to be left out when they played football and begged her parents to get in the game. So, when she was 5 years old, her father and his friend formed a flag football league. Tepper fell in love with the game of flag football and it has been a part of her life ever since.

Success in school, and on the football field, did not come without adversity. Tepper has dealt with vision impairment since first grade, but it wasn't discovered until five years later after struggles with reading. To this day, she has to wear contacts four hours before games to get her "brain adjusted" to what she's seeing.

"In fifth grade, she came home and said that she saw the print of a book and the letters jumping at her," said Rachel Tepper, her mother. "And she said whenever she would look at a computer screen, she would see boxes, which were the pixels on the computer. So, I took her to get her eyes checked, and once we did that, we realized that she had a vision impairment and that it wasn't a reading issue per se. She just couldn't see well to make and form sentences. We did meet with the school at that point before she entered middle school and we got all the services that she needed for her to academically thrive.

"Sixth grade was such a, no pun intended, an eye opener for her. She did very, very well. She went from struggling student to excelling to being put into advanced placement classes and honors classes in seventh grade. It was a huge leap. She would cry with reading. She would be embarrassed to read in front of people. That was another struggle that she had gone through. Another little success for her."

Meanwhile, Tepper's love of the football only continued to grow. With no girls flag football team yet available in her school, she tried to coax her parents into letting her play tackle football.

"Vanessa will always find a way," Rachel Tepper, said. "She's resilient. She knows what she wants."

Admittedly hesitant about the idea, her parents finally gave in and talked to one of her coaches. For three days after that, she followed her parents around the house saying, "How about now? How about now? Can I play? Can I play?"

The answer was yes. She became the only female on the Minisink Valley modified tackle football team, playing quarterback and receiver.

"When I get out onto the field, I step on there and everything is just gone from my mind and all I'm thinking about is football," Vanessa Tepper said. "I'm in the moment. There is nothing to worry about."

Tepper played tackle football on her school teams from eighth to 10^th grade, when she was suddenly forced to give it up.

One day, while playing quarterback for the Minisink Valley High School tackle football team, Tepper ran up the sideline on a routine play during a preseason scrimmage before her sophomore year. She got banged up a bit – "I didn't slide" – but didn't think much of it at the time.

However, Tepper later came to her parents to report a bruise on her body that was growing in size along with stomach pain, and they wisely decided to take her to the doctor. Bloodwork revealed a platelet count of 3,000. Normal levels range from 150,000 to 400,000.

"I was like, what do you mean? What does that mean?" Tepper said. "Then they said I had to be rushed to the hospital."

Eighteen vials of blood and a long day of questions and tests later, it was discovered that she had immune thrombocytopenia purpura. Known as ITP, the real world effects are if she got cut anywhere on her body, she could potentially bleed out. If she got bumped into and knocked over, she could have internal bleeding.

That is a crushing diagnosis for any New Yorker, let alone an avid athlete and a football player to boot.

"That was very traumatic," Rachel Tepper said. "One day you're on the football field having a scrimmage and then the next minute you're told you can't even watch a game from the field because of the risk of getting hit someone who's playing or by a football."

"It just kind of shut down her whole world," said Michael Tepper, her father and Minisink Valley flag football coach. "To have everything just all of a sudden stop, it's devastating."

However, as her mother likes to say, Tepper pushes through everything. She has her whole life as a friend, sister, daughter, teammate, and student.

"I feel like when I was going through everything, I lost a part of me," Tepper said. "It was really upsetting. It was a long journey. But then I started to realize that this is actually happening. It's a real thing. It's a real problem, but I'm not the only one who has it."

Tepper was hospitalized for two weeks in the oncology unit. She accumulated a mass of balloons given to her as well-wishes but, unable to leave her room, had a better idea for them. So, she donated them to the younger children on her floor.

"Seeing how they came out all excited and grabbed all the balloons and ran back into the room, it just sparked something in me," Tepper said. "I was just like this is something that I want to do. I want to help them get better. Seeing how the doctors and nurses helped me, that's exactly what I want to do."

Despite the hospital stay and the ensuing months of going into the infusion center to see the hematologist every other day, she made the honor roll at Minisink Valley the same semester.

"Getting good grades in school, that's me trying to find my way into medical school," Tepper said. "I didn't know what I wanted to do in the beginning, but once I was going through all this, it led me to that path. It just pushes me to get better grades in school and sit there and study for hours."

As a result of her experience with the ITP, her goal is to attend medical school to become a hematologist and help treat ITP. To this end, she has become a participant in the Principal of Health program. Through this half-day program, she visits several nursing homes and clinics to gain practical experience and take courses in the applied sciences. At the end of this two-year curriculum, she will receive a certification in EMS, and hopes to continue with her goal of earning a Doctorate degree.

All of this is why Vanessa Tepper was a worthy candidate for the Heart of a Giant Award, which she was surprised with during a special ceremony in the Giants' locker room at MetLife Stadium. Giants team physician and HSS sports medicine surgeon Dr. Samuel A. Taylor and outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux presented the trophy to Tepper, who was surrounded by teammates, administrators and family.

"Your story is inspiring to your teammates and other people in your community, to me, to Kayvon, and we just wanted to say how proud of you we are," Dr. Taylor said. "She's our first female Heart of Giant award winner and a testament to the sport of football as well and how the sport of football transcends gender, race, everything."

"I think adversity is always going to be the biggest word in all of our lives because we're all going to face it," Thibodeaux said. "We don't know how we're going to face it. It kind of just comes at us, but you being able to persevere, overcome and then succeed, you're a true Giant at heart. The sky is the limit."

Tepper was joined on the 2024 Heart of a Giant Team by 10 other high school students who also share amazing personal stories of unique commitment, character, teamwork, dedication, and will.

Christopher Dines: WR & DB, Chittenango High School, Chittenango, NY

Christopher is a senior wide receiver and defensive back for the Chittenango Bears. He tragically broke his femur in the first game of his sophomore year and was told it could end his athletic career. Christopher persevered and rehabbed as hard as he could to be able to return to the football field his junior year. Christopher's academic achievements are equally impressive, as he is a member of the High Honor Roll and National Honor Society. His unwavering commitment to his studies and athletics, even in the face of challenges, makes him a truly inspirational figure. He has given back to his community by volunteering at Clear Path for Veterans.

Memphis Ferguson: QB & LB, Whitesboro High School, Marcy, NY

Memphis is senior quarterback and linebacker for the Whitesboro Warriors, who are currently 11-0 in 2024. A role model in his community, demonstrating exceptional leadership and character, Memphis prioritizes setting a positive example for young people in town as a notable high school football player. Memphis is dedicated to his community, attending youth football games and actively participating in class. His coach says that "his work ethic is second to none," which is also evident in the classroom as a member of the High Honor Roll. Memphis has also been recognized for his athletic accomplishments, earning All-Mohawk Valley, All-CNY, and All-State honors. He is currently taking classes at MVCC and was previously named Junior Athlete of the Year. In 2024, Memphis received the Student Achievement Award for Adversity, recognizing his resilience and determination in overcoming challenges. "He has never used the adversity he has faced as an excuse, rather he has become stronger because of it," says his coach.

Anthony Aguanno: DE & OG, Pinelands High School, Little Egg Harbor, NJ

Despite suffering a traumatic weightroom injury to his shoulder that required him to be airlifted to the emergency room during his sophomore year, Anthony has remained committed to his team's success. Despite missing two seasons in a row, Anthony attended every practice, served as a player coach, and was named a team captain in his senior year. His dedication to giving back to his community is evident in his volunteer work at car washes and youth football camps. His academic achievements are equally impressive, as he is an honor roll student and will be the first member of his family to attend a four-year college. Anthony's perseverance, leadership, and commitment to both his community and education make him a truly inspiring individual.

Lucy Mager: QB, Hendrick Hudson High School, Montrose, NY

After breaking her spine while playing softball her freshman year, Lucy dedicated herself to physical therapy and made a full recovery. She displayed the same dedication and persistence in her personal effort to create a girls' flag football team at Hendrick Hudson High School. Despite facing initial rejection, Lucy persevered for a year and a half and was eventually able to get the team approved at her school, ultimately leading the team as quarterback and captain for two seasons. She is also a varsity athlete in tennis and bowling. Lucy's passion for football is only matched by her passion for serving as an ally for individuals with special needs, frequently volunteer for her school's Special Education programs and trips, participating in unified sports (sports specifically tailored to special education students) and even developing the Inaugural Adaptive Tennis Clinic. She also tutors underclassmen at her school, and is also actively involved in the Peer Leadership program. Lucy's academic achievements are equally impressive, as she is a member of the Math Honor Society, the National Honor Society, and the 15 for Life Club, which focuses on mental health for athletes. She has been recognized four times with the scholar-athlete award, and numerous other academic awards for biomedical sciences and future health professionals. Outside of school she is a dog lover who is proud to have adopted four rescue dogs, and supports her local animal shelter.

Katelynn "KJ" Johnston: LB, Northeastern Clinton Central High School, Champlain, NY

"KJ" is the definition of student-athlete, as valedictorian of her senior class with a perfect attendance record, as well as a four-sport varsity athlete in soccer, softball, flag football and ice hockey. As a sophomore, she captained her school's inaugural flag football team – leading 7:30am practices to teach the fundamentals of the game while encouraging her teammates in their new sport. Eventually, KJ and her teammates became sectional champions and the first ever regional finalists for their section. KJ's school is located in a rural area in northern New York with an abundance of economically challenged families. Many fellow students lack basic needs and necessities - so KJ decided to use the power of sports to help by creating the "Cougar Care" Initiative. Through this program, KJ collected basic necessities like soap, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes, socks and underwear to put into kits to pass out to students in grades K-12. When word got out about KJ's initiative, visiting schools started bringing donations to present to KJ before our games. KJ has raised thousands of dollars in donated items and cash donations from all areas of upstate NY and Vermont. KJ also finds time to referee youth sports games, volunteer for the Booster Club, and complete community service projects through National Honors Society, as well as being invited to serve as a student-teacher at her middle school where she tutors during her free periods. Some of the clubs she actively participates in include, National Honors Society, Harvard Model United Nations (HMUN), Cougar Outdoor Leadership Academy, College For Every Student Mentoring, and Student Council. She has been recognized for her excellence in various subjects, including Spanish, English, and Calculus. For her senior year, she was also selected to be part of a prestigious engineering program called New Visions Applied Engineering that includes five college classes with hands-on learning projects. She is the first female student from Northeastern Clinton Central High School to be a part of the program and is one of two girls in the program this year.

Justin Sevilla: OT & DT, Union City High School, Union City, NJ

Justin's love of football can be seen through his perseverance in overcoming head surgery to remove a cancerous tumor, which caused weakness on his left side, to return as a junior to start at right tackle, helping his team achieve a 10-2 record. Unfortunately, he had to overcome further surgeries on his back, head, stomach, and chest, but he once again returned to his team in his senior year. The soaring Eagles are currently 10-1 on the season. His unwavering dedication to his teammates and sport, even in the face of adversity, are truly inspiring. Justin's academic achievements were equally impressive, as he earned a place on the honor roll.

Brady O'Connell: Team Manager, Peru Central High School, Peru, NY

Despite having to persevere through three kidney transplants, Crohn's Disease, Type 1 Diabetes, and a learning disability, Brady never lost his passion for sports, school or life. Brady has been around the Peru High School Football Team for most of his childhood. He has watched his older two brothers play and was a water/ball boy when he was in elementary school. In his Sophomore year, Brady asked the athletic director and coach if he could be part of the coaching staff as a student. Brady spent the next two years attending every camp, practice, and game. He came on scouting trips, charted plays of the opponents, helped with equipment, and provided feedback to the coaching staff. Prior to his senior year, Brady was able to get his doctor's permission to play on the team, with a few precautions. From that moment, Brady began working out daily in the gym and attended summer camp to get in shape. According to his coach, "the biggest impact Brady has made on this team is his continued dedication to the game of football. He has taken this opportunity to prove that determination and self-advocacy is an essential component of success, in football and more importantly, in life." Brady has also achieved honor roll in school, and is a member of the varsity golf team. Beyond his personal athletic pursuits, Brady enjoys umpiring little league baseball games.

Andrew Barta: RB & LB, Wallkill Valley Regional High School, Hamburg, NJ

Andrew is a remarkable young man who has demonstrated exceptional character, strength and resilience in the face of adversity. As a child, Andrew suffered from a heart abnormality and underwent open heart surgery to correct the issue. He was able to fully recover and began playing youth football. Now a senior at Wallkill Valley and first-year starter at linebacker, Andrew leads his team as a captain. Despite the recent diagnosis of his mother with breast cancer, Andrew has maintained a positive attitude and helped lead his family through difficult times. He has remained devoted to the community through countless volunteer hours, and has maintained a high GPA as a member of the National Honor Society.

Zane Ragsdale: FB & DE, Saranac Lake High School, Saranac Lake, NY

Since losing his parents in the critical childhood years, Zane has been constantly trying to improve himself with the help of family and friends. He's used school and football as cornerstones in his pursuit of constant self-improvement. According to his coach, "Zane leads by example and is always the last one to leave the weight room or the field at the end of practice. As a teammate, Zane wants nothing but what is best for the team. He has been recognized by his school, earning the Scholar Athlete award and the Johnny Kent Jr. award for being an exemplary teammate. Zane also leads by example in the classroom as an honor student. His resilience and dedication to his studies and sports are truly inspiring.

Omarion McClean, DL, Lynbrook High School, Lynbrook, NY

Omarion is a remarkable young man who demonstrates exceptional character, resilience, and a strong commitment to his community. Despite being diagnosed with ADHD, OCD and a speech impediment, he has learned how to be a self-advocate, understand his learning disabilities, and with the help of teachers, coaches and his father, he has excelled on the football field and in the classroom. In the summer Omarion never missed a 6:45 am work out or a 5pm football practice, often walking from across town in order to make it there. This past winter, Omarion made every single off-season activity, 70 in total, and was voted unanimously in week 1 of the season as the "red bandana" player of the entire preseason by his teammates. Omarion is actively involved in his community, delivering food to the elderly, coaching youth football clinics, and participating in bullying prevention programs for younger students at local schools. He has also a member of the Nassau County Law Enforcement Explorers Program, and the Junior Police Academy and aspires to become a police officer in the future. Omarion's dedication to his studies is evident in his placement on the Principal's Honor Roll. His coach describes him as "soft-spoken and mild mannered, he plays with passion and fire, is a gentleman in and around school, is the consummate teammate and has overcome a great deal of adversity in his personal life to get to where he is now."