Six Bears Named to NFF Hampshire Honor Society

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State University graduate students Andre Domond and Mattheau Gaudet as well as seniors James Fontaine, Zachary Gamelin, Sean Howe and Patrick Quinn have been selected to the National Football Foundation (NFF) 2023 Hampshire Honor Society.

The 2023 NFF Hampshire Honor Society is comprised of college football players from all divisions of the NCAA, NAIA and sprint football who each maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout their college careers.

An elite group of 1,734 players from 328 schools qualified for membership in 2023, setting a new record for the number of members in a single year during the program's 17-year history. The initiative has now honored 16,370 student-athletes since its inception.

To be nominated, student-athletes must have been a starter or significant contributor in their final year of eligibility while achieving at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average and meeting all NCAA/NAIA-mandated progress towards degree requirements and graduation.

Domond (3.67 GPA) graduated in the spring of 2022 with a degree in phyical education. The Cambridge, Massachusetts native competed in his final season of collegiate football this past fall as a graduate student and is working towards his masters in health science (strenght & conditioning). Domond competed for two seasons for the Bears in the defensive backfield.

A native of Weymouth, Massachusetts, Gaudet (3.80 GPA) also graduated last spring as he earned a degree in criminal justice. Gaudet played his final collegiate season in 2022 as a graduate student and is working towards his masters in criminal justice. He played four seasons for Bridgewater State on the offensive line.

Fontaine, who hails from East Grand Forks, Minnesota, sports a 3.87 GPA and is majoring in accounting and finance. Fontaine spent time at linebacker and specials teams over two seasons in a BSU uniform.

A native of Williston, Vermont, Gamelin is a criminal justice major with a 3.77 GPA. Gamelin played on the defensive line for the Bears for two seasons.

Howe, who resides in Cranston, Rhode Island, is a computer science major and checks in with a 3.57 GPA. Howe spent three seasons on the offensive line as well as the long snapper.

Quinn, who hails from Boston, Massachusetts, is mathematics major with a 3.62 GPA. Quinn was an offensive lineman for the Bears for two seasons.

"We are thrilled to honor another impressive group of athletes as part of this year's Hampshire Honor Society," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell.

"Over the last 17 years, the Hampshire Honor Society has served as a powerful vehicle for schools to recognize their college football players who have distinguished themselves both academically and athletically," Hatchell added, "and we congratulate the schools and each of these young men for their commitment to excellence in all aspects of their lives."

The NFF Hampshire Honor Society capitalizes on the NFF's National Scholar-Athlete program by greatly expanding the number of scholar-athletes the NFF can recognize each year. The program further strengthens the organization's leadership role in encouraging academic performance by the student-athletes at the 774 colleges and universities with football programs nationwide.

Jon F. Hanson, the chairman and founder of The Hampshire Companies, provided the funds to launch the NFF Hampshire Honor Society in 2007. He made the contribution as part of his legacy to the organization after serving as NFF Chairman from 1994-2006. He currently serves the organization as chairman emeritus. Each player awarded with membership in this year's Honor Society will receive a certificate commemorating his or her achievement.

"It was my great privilege to endow the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, which has greatly increased the number of college student-athletes the NFF has been able to recognize during the past 17 years," said Hanson. "Nationwide there are thousands of football players excelling in the classroom, and they are going on to become great leaders."

"We have honored more than 16,000 student-athletes in the last 17 years thanks to Jon Hanson's generosity," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "We are grateful for his passionate belief in the scholar-athlete ideal, and the Hampshire Honor Society allows us to showcase the names of tomorrow's leaders while inspiring future generations to follow in their footsteps." 

Complete list of National Football Foundation 2023 Hampshire Honor Society members (PDF)