Mamaroneck Baseball Player Selected as Finalist for New Balance Game Changer Contest

Kumar Nambiar, a 16-year-old left-handed pitcher from Mamaroneck, NY, has been chosen as one of four finalists in the USA “New Balance Game Changer” contest, according to South Asia Mail. He will be a senior in the fall.

The contest will decide who deserves the 2014 New Balance Game Changer Award, which includes a $10,000 college scholarship and $2,500 in New Balance product to give to the charity of their choice.

Each finalist submitted a 3-minute video on YouTube explaining how they impacted their community through baseball. Kumar said in his video submission, “My parents were told that sports were a distraction from education but now, as they support me and my two siblings, I can tell them that education can also be linked with sports, and it is possible to succeed at both at the same time.”

Kumar mentors younger baseball players in his community, working on the mechanics and the science behind pitching. He has been working on a science research paper for three years on the mechanics of pitching. Peter Ferraro, father of Peter Jacob, said about Kumar, “he is a role model, he works hard, he has a smile on his face all the time and has a positive outlook.”

“Because of baseball, I will be getting a great education,” Kumar said. He wants to be a role model to young athletes in the community. “You can do both- succeed in the classroom and on the field.”

Throughout his schooling, he has maintained a 93% average which qualified him to become a member of the prestigious National Honor Society. He will be attending Yale in the fall of 2015.

To help Kumar win the contest and scholarship, watch his 3-minute YouTube video, then vote for him by visiting NBGCAward.com.

Photo credit: Kumar Nambiar/YouTube