JOHN RICHARDS OF SEWANEE-THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH, 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 December 13, 2009.

Richards is an assistant proctor for his dorm and has also represented his dorm on the student assembly governing body both of his years at Sewanee. Currently, Richards serves as an orientation guide for 10 freshmen.

A rush chair for Chi Psi fraternity, Richards is a member of the Order of Gownsmen - the honor society and student government of the University of the South.

Richards is a member of the Guild of Humanist - a group devoted to moral character and exploring moral concepts through discussion and spreading it through speakers and lecture series. He is also a leader of a Bible study group on campus, "Friday Night Light."

A member of the campus Forestry/Geology club which evaluates and studies sustainability and conservation, Richards plans a spring break trip to Quito, Ecuador with the Sewanee outreach team as well as a summer trip to Yellowstone National Park.

Off campus, Richards is very involved in the community. He is an active member of the Sewanee Invisible Children Schools for Schools - assisting in planning and fundraising, and has also volunteered several times for "Housing Sewanee" project as well as Big People for Little People.