Senior and Varsity Flag football quarterback Vanessa Tepper has been selected as USA Football’s 2024 "Heart of Giant," with the New York Giants organization announcing her selection at a special, surprise Dec. 6 ceremony at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
Vanessa is the first flag football player and the first female to be selected in the award’s history.
New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux and Samuel A. Taylor, MD, HSS sports medicine and the Giants’ associate team physician, were on hand for her recognition in the team’s locker room.
Thibodeaux surprised Vanessa, along with her family and flag football team, by presenting her with the grand prize trophy, tickets to 2025's Super Bowl LIX and a $10,000 equipment grant for the High School’s Flag Football Program.
“It has been a truly rewarding experience to be part of this program, working alongside HSS, USA Football, and the Giants to celebrate these young role models with an amazing passion for football in our tri-state communities,” Thibodeaux said. “Vanessa’s journey and accomplishments, both on and off the field, demonstrates resilience, passion, and leadership, embodying the Heart of a Giant.”
Dr. Taylor added: “For 11 years, this program has recognized the remarkable achievements of students who demonstrate what it means to have a Heart of a Giant. I am always honored to stand alongside each year’s winner, and I am especially pleased to be here today to celebrate the program’s first-ever female honoree.”
About the award...
The Heart of a Giant award, presented by the New York Giants and HSS (which has been the official hospital and orthopedic physicians for the Giants for over 40 years) seeks to find and highlight tri-state high school tackle and flag football athletes, student managers, student mascots or other designated student team members who “demonstrate that extra special something,” such as a relentless work ethic and love for the game.
Vanessa was one of 11 finalists for this award which recognizes a small number of high school athletes in the tri-state area who embody the spirit of the game through five qualities: commitment, character, teamwork, dedication and will. After a community voting process, 11 honorees were selected to the Heart of a Giant team, with an overall Heart of Giant winner announced on Dec. 6. Each finalist received a $1,000 equipment grant for their high school’s football program, with the grand prize winner’s school getting an additional $9,000 equipment grant.
Persevering through an illness
These five qualities were clearly obvious as Vanessa overcame a medical condition called Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP), which is diagnosed by ruling out other causes of a low platelet count.
As a sophomore, Vanessa played on the high school’s tackle football team, taking on the roles of quarterback and wide receiver. After a scrimmage, she noticed a growing bruise on her body, which eventually led to her ITP diagnosis. That diagnosis is made when a patient has a low platelet count of 100,000 per microliter of blood or less and there’s no other causes for the low count, such as medications or other illnesses.
ITP is a blood clotting disorder. As a result, it’s impossible for ITP patients to take part in contact sports due to the risk of being hit and possible resulting internal bleeding because blood can’t clot. A normal person’s platelet count ranges from 150,000 to 450,000. Prior to treatment, Vanessa’s platelet count was only 1,000. She could no longer play the tackle or flag football games she loved. Due to her critically low platelet count, her hematologist would not even allow her to watch tackle football or flag football from the sidelines.
However, through the care and attention of her medical team and after many months of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusions, high doses of steroids and special medication that helps bone marrow and platelet production, Vanessa was able to return to the field.
“At no point in time did she have a negative thought,” said her father Michael Tepper, who is also Minisink Valley’s Varsity Flag Football head coach. “She kept that positive attitude and she did it with a smile.”
A fierce and dedicated player...
While in the hospital and uncertain about her ability to continue playing sports, Vanessa learned that the district was launching a flag football program. She was a vocal advocate for the initiative, reaching out to her friends to ensure they were all committed to forming a team for that spring. After her medical clearance, Vanessa returned to the field as the team’s captain with the team having a 9-1 inaugural season record and an 11-1 season record last year.
Director of Athletics Timothy Bult, who attended the announcement ceremony along with members of the Varsity Flag Football team, called Vanessa a fierce and dedicated player whose commitment to excellence exceeds the five qualities the selection committee was looking for in its 2024 honoree.
“Vanessa lives and breathes flag football,” he said. “She’s dedicated to her sport, to her teammates’ success and demonstrates this every day through her will, grit and drive. Most importantly, she’s a bright and caring young woman whose character is beyond reproach."
Superintendent Brian Monahan also attended the surprise announcement and added: "She is a deserving finalist and I know she’ll continue to represent the award’s qualities — and Minisink Valley — with humbleness and distinction.”
USA Football CEO Scott Hallenbeck was honored to announce Vanessa’s selection as this year's recipient.
“Her resilience and leadership are testaments to the powerful impact students can have in classrooms, communities and sports," he added. “We are grateful to the Giants and HSS for their commitment to recognizing outstanding members of the football community who overcome adversity to excel both on and off the field.”
Coach Tepper said his love and belief in Vanessa is the foundation of their coaching/player relationship.
“Being a dad and coaching your daughter or son is about teaching them the game, but more importantly, teaching them how to be strong and resilient,” he said. “Just like many parents, some of my favorite moments are watching her play on the field/court. The best part about my position is that I'm not only her coach, but her father as well.”
Vanessa’s academic achievements and honors
At Minisink Valley, Vanessa’s academic accomplishments have placed her on the High School’s High Honor Roll every quarter. She’s a member of the school’s chapter of the National Honor Society and Orange-Ulster BOCES’ (OUB) National Technical Honor Society.
Additionally, Vanessa was named Offensive Player of the Year and honored with the prestigious U.S. Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award. She also captained the girls’ soccer team as a goalie, earning the Coaches Award, and is a member of the girls varsity wrestling team. She volunteers at a local food kitchen, is a recipient of SUNY Orange’s Sojourner Truth Award and was selected for Junior Leadership Orange.
Vanessa is also an OUB Health Careers Academy student. At the end of this two-year curriculum, she will earn her medical assistant and EMS certifications. As a result of her medical issues, Vanessa plans to pursue a degree in biology and attend medical school to become a hematologist.
“We want to thank USA Football, the New York Giants and HSS for their $10,000 grant to our Varsity Flag Football program,” added Mr. Bult. “We will put this to good use and we’re looking forward to a stellar Flag Football season.”