Emory University Head Swimming & Diving Coach Jon Howell has been honored as this year's recipient of Emory University's prestiguous Thomas Jefferson Award. The award honors a member of the faculty or staff for significant service to Emory University through personal activities, influence, and leadership, usually over the course of many years.

To learn more about the award, please click here.

"The goal was never to be the best Division III (DIII) team; it was to create something uniquely Emory."

Those are the words of Jon Howell, coach of the men's and women's swimming and diving team since 1998 and winner of this year's Jefferson Award, which "honors faculty and staff who have significantly enriched the intellectual and civic life of the Emory community through personal activities, influence and leadership, usually over the course of many years."

Both things have been true: Howell has been the driving force behind the most competitive teams in Emory athletics history, and he has created a program honoring Emory values such as service and commitment to excellence.

"DIII provides a wonderful platform, but I wanted to transcend it," Howell says. "My focus, and that of our entire coaching staff, has been on how can we support swimmers beyond their time in the pool, helping them become scholars and leaders."

In other words, Howell and his staff are thinking about the athletes' personal development and care for others.

To continue reading, please visit the Emory News Center release found here.