The NFL’s highest and most prestigious awards don’t concentrate only on what happens on the field. While excellent play in games is helpful, the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award focuses more on what a player does off the field, in the community, and for others.
Modeled after the NFL award, the Atlanta Falcons High School Man of the Year honors a high school football student-athlete who embodies a high level of dedication on the field and compassion off of it. The Falcons’ award committee selected Lassiter’s Shaw Mixon as the winner of the 2023 High School Man of the Year.
Describing why they chose Shaw as the 2023 winner, the Falcons website included this:
“As a three-year varsity starter on the football team and Vice President of Sources of Strength, Shaw’s commitment to community service and mental health advocacy sets him apart. Despite personal challenges, including the loss of his father and a season-ending injury, Shaw’s resilience and dedication inspire those around him, leaving an enduring impact on both his school and local community.”
Lassiter’s head football coach, Sean Thom, nominated Shaw for this award. “It was an honor to coach Shaw for four years,” Coach Thom said. “He is the type of kid who makes everyone around him better. He made me a better husband, father, coach, and teacher. He is an uncommon man in today’s society and has great things in his future.”
Shaw, a two-sport athlete (football and basketball), was informed that he was a finalist for the award and invited to a Falcons game along with three other finalists. At the game, Shaw was revealed as the winner and received his award officially at a banquet in late February.
“It’s nice to get recognition and validation that you’re doing something right,” Shaw said humbly about being selected. “I wasn’t expecting an award or anything, but obviously, whatever I have been doing is working, and I will keep giving back to the community in whatever ways I can.”
Long before becoming the Falcons’ High School Man of the Year, Shaw was giving back at Lassiter through the Sources of Strength (SOS) program. SOS is an international movement that seeks to bring attention to mental health and end the stigma surrounding mental illness. Lassiter’s SOS program is a flagship in Cobb Schools and one of the district’s very first. Lassiter has over 200 trained students (more than 10% of the school’s student body), and nearly a third of the staff are trained as trusted adults. Shaw began SOS last school year and currently serves as vice president of Lassiter’s program.
Lassiter AP teacher Lizz Etter oversees the SOS program as a sponsor and has known Shaw for most of his high school career.
“I had the pleasure of working with him in SOS, but he was also a stellar student in my AP Government and Politics class,” Ms. Etter said. “Shaw was a constant participant in class discussions and respectful to peers who expressed opinions that differed from his own. He is very bright, always earning very high marks on assignments, and excels in sports, playing varsity on the basketball and football teams. As a friend, Shaw is loyal, genuine, and kind. Above all, he is humble and gracious. Shaw Mixon is an excellent choice for any award.”
In addition to being an excellent student, a varsity athlete, and Vice President of SOS, Shaw also gives back to the younger students in his school community through a program called The Joy Mission Club.
“It was started at Lassiter about two years ago by one of my friends, and we go to local elementary and middle schools to support kids that have lost a loved one,” Shaw explained. “It gives them something to look forward to and take their mind off their grief for a little while.”
Having lost his father a little over two years ago, Shaw knows what these kids are going through. While his own network of family and friends was strong and helped support him during a very tough time in his life, he wants to be a support for other kids experiencing something similar.
“It can be easy to think about yourself and how difficult your situation is, but sharing what you think and feel with someone else is so necessary and important. I don’t want anyone to have to go through that time alone.”
Shaw’s selfless mission to be outward-focused is also paying dividends throughout Lassiter’s halls and locker rooms.
“Many new athletes joined SOS this year and became trained in the program because they were encouraged by Shaw,” said Ms. Etters proudly. “He is dependable at meetings and comes up with good ideas to help promote our message. Shaw Mixon is a Renaissance Man, I’m confident will go very far in life.”
