Jan. 21, 2004
Former Notre Dame track and field stand out and best-selling author Nicholas Sparks ('88) will be presented the Rev. Robert F. Griffin, C.S.C., Award by the University next week. Sparks is one of four Notre Dame graduates to be honored by the Alumni Association during ceremonies on campus in the next seven days.
Sparks is being presented the award to honor is numerous literary achievements. He is the author of "The Notebook," "The Rescue," "A Bend in the Road," "Message in a Bottle," "A Walk to Remember," "Nights in Rodanthe," "The Guardian" and "The Wedding." "Message in a Bottle" and "A Walk to Remember" have been made into major motion pictures and Sparks is currently adapting "The Rescue" for a television series.
While a student-athlete at Notre Dame, Sparks was a member of the 4x800-meter relay team which still holds the school outdoor record. He has been married to his wife, Cathy, for 13 years. The couple has five children and reside in New Bern, N.C. Nicholas and Cathy have donated $1.5 million to the University's Master of Fine Arts Program in creative writing.
