Josh Chanin, Austin College, Men's Swimming

JOSH CHANIN OF AUSTIN COLLEGE, a sophomore on the men's swimming and diving team, has been selected the SCAC Character & Community Male Student-Athlete-of-the-Week for the week ending Sunday, March 9, 2014.

Chanin, a native of Coppell, Texas, has been active throughout his time at Austin College in the community both as a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Council and in various community service projects. He has been dedicated to community and volunteer work since his days at Coppell High School, where he was awarded the prestigious Community Service Award as a senior. He was also the secretary of the school’s Red Cross Club and was inducted into the National Honor Society and the National Spanish Honor Society.

During his high school years, Chanin completed more than 250 community service hours, volunteering with various projects such as animal shelters, working with the elderly, and Relay for Life. He also worked as a volunteer swim coach for his local YMCA Special Olympics for three summers. During his senior year at Coppell, he was selected as the Coppell Rotary Club Student of the Season for all of his work in the community. His work with Special Olympics has carried over to his time at Austin College, as he has helped organize multiple events as a member of the SAAC.

In addition to his work in the SAAC and with Special Olympics, Chanin serves as a member of the Environmentally Friendly ECOS Club, and as part of the Great Day of Service, he volunteered at the local Denison, Texas Food Pantry. He is also a Resident Assistant at Austin College, as well as a member of the Acapella Choir. He also excels in the classroom, having been named to the 2013 SCAC Spring Academic Honor Roll, and in high school he was a TISCA Academic All-State selection and a NISCA Academic All-American.