BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State University graduate students T.J. Hairston and Michael Rosa have been selected to the National Football Foundation (NFF) 2022 Hampshire Honor Society.

The 2022 NFF Hampshire Honor Society is comprised of college football players from all divisions of play who each maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout their college careers. An elite group of 1,559 players from 313 schools qualified for membership in 2022, the Society's 16th year. The 1,559 honorees are the second most in a single year during the program's history. The initiative has now honored 14,640 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.

Hairston (3.22 GPA) graduated in the spring of 2021 with a degree in marketing. The Watertown, Massachusetts native competed in his final season of collegiate football this past fall as a graduate student and is working towards his masters in business administration.

A native of Uxbridge, Massachusetts, Rosa (3.48 GPA) also graduated last spring as he earned a degree in physical education and exercise science with a concentration in health fitness. Rosa played his final collegiate season in 2021 as a graduate student and is working towards his masters in physical education with a strength and conditioning concentration.

On the gridiron, Hairston hauled in 128 receptions for 1,510 yards and 11 touchdowns in 31 career games with the Bears at wide receiver. He is fourth all-time in program history in receptions and eighth in receiving yards.

Rosa amassed 93 tackes (60 solo) including seven tackles for loss and a pair of sacks in 16 career games at linebacker for Bridgewater State. He also notched two interceptions, four pass breakups and two forced fumbles.

"As the National Football Foundation celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2022, we are pleased 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 16 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 771 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 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 16 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 14,000 student-athletes in the last 16 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 2022 Hampshire Honor Society members (PDF)