TAMPA, Fla. — USC-Beaufort’s Will Canipe, a senior from Murrells Inlet, S.C., has been selected by league coaches as The Sun Conference’s Champion of Character for 2020 in the sport of men’s golf.
 
The NAIA has long supported its Champions of Character program and its membership annually recognizes individuals from each sport for their growth and commitment to the core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership. The Sun Conference awards one athlete in each sport and the honoree is selected in a vote of that sport’s coaches following nominations from each school.
 
Much of Canipe’s community service activity centered around joining forces with his South Carolina neighbors in the cleanup efforts following major hurricanes that hit his home state in recent years. Canipe assisted with fixing and rebuilding homes damaged in the storms and helping others clean the debris created by the hurricanes.
 
As an extension of that volunteer work, Canipe also served an internship at Coast Insurance Group in his hometown of Murrels Inlet, S.C. Much of his work there – where he was able to apply his lessons learned in the classroom at USCB – involved working with customers affected by those hurricanes.
 
Canipe also has been heavily involved with PGA Tour veteran and 2016 U.S. Open Champion Dustin Johnson’s Golf School in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Johnson’s school helps grow junior golf in South Carolina and also sponsors the Dustin Johnson World Junior event, an elite tournament that attracts some of the finest junior golfers from all over the world.
 
Canipe also credits much of his success in the classroom and on-and-off the golf course with his experience working in his family’s auto parts business. It was working in that auto parts warehouse that instilled the importance of hard work and time management that led to his success in both academics and athletics.
 
An outstanding student, Canipe has earned Dean’s List recognition at USCB and has maintained a 3.7 GPA over his last four semesters.
 
“I want to thank my coaches Bryan Bessinger and Cory Cottrell for nominating me for this Champions of Character award,” said Canipe. “I am very honored and grateful to receive it.”