HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. — Football offensive lineman Mason Zimmerman stands out for his 6-foot-5, 325-pound frame.

On Sunday morning, he also was recognized for his standout performance in academics and community service.

Zimmerman — a redshirt senior from Whitehouse, Ohio, who has started 43 straight games for the Seawolves — received the National Football Foundation's Division I Scholar-Athlete Award for the Suffolk County chapter.

He was honored at a chapter breakfast on Sunday morning at the Hyatt Regency in Hauppauge.

"This award means a lot to me and my family," Zimmerman said. "My parents always pushed me to do my best in the classroom and to be the best person I could be. This recognition shows who I am and that what I do doesn't go unnoticed."
 
Zimmerman boasts a 3.33 cumulative GPA while majoring in civil engineering and minoring in business management.

He has appeared on the CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll each of the last two falls, has earned Dean's List recognition, and is a Charles Blumenstetter Academic Achievement Award winner from the Stony Brook football staff.

He is involved with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, for which he has helped organize food drives and other community service initiatives. He also is a member of the Student Life Advisory Council and reports directly to the dean of students about how to create a positive experience for undergraduate students. And he is co-president and founder of PAWS, a student group dedicated to supporting student-athletes in the area of mental health and wellness.

Zimmerman's philanthropic activities have included volunteering with the Stony Brook Children's Hospital, Stony Brook On-Campus Food Pantry, the America East's Fall Food Drive and the conference's Spread Respect program.

"The climate of inclusiveness and safe space for our student-athletes can be directly related to Mason's efforts," football head coach Chuck Priore said.