Robin Named a Finalist for Nissen Award

NORMAN – Senior OU men's gymnast Alec Robin has been selected as a finalist for the Nissen-Emery Award, the most prestigious honor in NCAA men's gymnastics. Robin joins five other gymnasts from around the country to make the cut as a finalist, who are Sean Senters (Stanford), Adrian de los Angeles (Michigan), CJ Maestas (Illinois), Ellis Mannon (Minnesota) and Craig Hernandez (Penn State).

Since 1966, college gymnastics' highest honor, the Nissen Award, has been presented annually to that year's outstanding senior collegiate gymnast. The Nissen-Emery Award does not only honor the collegiate senior gymnast who has established an outstanding record of achievement during his college career. More than simply an award for gymnastics excellence, the winner must also be an example of good sportsmanship and fair play and must maintain a high standard of scholarship throughout his college career.

The "Heisman Trophy" of gymnastics, the Nissen-Emery Award is inscribed with the following motto: "The true champion seeks excellence physically, mentally, socially, and morally."

Robin is a two-time NCAA national champion, winning the floor exercise and vault event finals at the 2014 NCAA Championships. The Calabasas, Calif., native scored a 15.425 on the floor exercise and a 15.250 on the vault to capture both event national titles. Robin became just the sixth member of the OU program to win two individual event titles at the same championship.

Along with having two titles, Robin has five All-America honors. After joining the team as a walk-on during his freshman season, Robin enjoyed a breakout season in 2013 as a sophomore, as he claimed three All-America distinctions. Robin placed fifth in the all-around with a score of 86.650, second on vault with a mark of 15.325 and sixth on high bar with a score of 14.700. Robin followed up the superb effort with two All-America honors as a junior after winning the floor exercise and vault event finals.

Robin is just as well-rounded on the academic side as he is in his gymnastics. The senior is a biology major with a minor in Spanish and chemistry. Robin has achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.49 and has already gotten accepted into the distinguished dental schools of NYU, USC and Pennsylvania. Robin's excellence in the classroom has not gone unnoticed, as he is a two-time CGA Academic All-America Scholar Athlete, Academic All-Big 12 First Team member and MPSF Scholar Athlete.

Despite his heavy academic and athletic schedules Robin still finds time to serve and help out in the community. Robin has consistently used his time giving back to others. The senior is in the midst of his fourth year of volunteering at Cleveland Elementary School, where he goes to a classroom every week and helps mentor students with school work and life.

Robin also volunteers his time at local dental offices to both get experience in his desired career and help out. The senior and the rest of the OU men's gymnastics squad served the community of Moore, Okla. in the summer of 2014, as they joined with other organizations and teams in the surrounding community to help rebuild a playground of an elementary school that was destroyed by a tornado.

The senior has found success on the international stage as well as the NCAA level. In 2013 Robin traveled to Israel to compete in the 19th Maccabiah Games. Robin was exceptional at the competition, helping Team USA capture the gold medal. Robin also took home gold in the high bar event and earned silver in the individual all-around competition, the pommel horse and the vault.

Robin has been an integral piece of this season's squad, as he serves as a co-captain of the top-ranked 2015 team. Recently Robin was named the MPSF Gymnast of the Week after helping the Sooners break the NCAA team scoring record against No. 2 Illinois. The senior posted ridiculous scores of 15.800 on the floor exercise, 15.100 on the pommel horse and 15.200 on the high bar.

Voting for the Nissen Award is by invitation only and extended to Coaches, Team Captains, Conference Championship Judges, and CGA Honorary Lifetime Members who will receive their invitations by email. To check out Robin and the other 2015 finalists, click here.