With an Under-23 World Championship bronze medal already in his pocket, Oklahoma City University senior James Francis had already been having a solid 2018 season. It got better last week with a text message congratulating him on being named one of four finalists for the World Rowing 2018 Filippi Spirit Award.

"I did not see that coming," Francis said. "I was walking to class when (Cam Brown) my coach from freshman year sent me a text saying congratulations. And, I was like - wait, what?"

Francis was announced a finalist Thursday along with student rowers Wilson Mure of Australia, Nikola Potparevic of Serbia and Amidu Silva, from Sri Lanka. The award, in its sixth year was established by FISA and Filippi Boats to recognize international university athletes from around the world who have "demonstrated the core values of rowing in his/her social, academic and sporting life."

The winner is scheduled to be announced Friday.

Francis is one of three US athletes that have been nominated for the award since its introduction as the The Parmigiani Spirit Award in 2013. It was renamed the Filippi Spirit in 2016.

Yale University lightweight Matthew O'Donoghue was nominated for the award in 2014, and in 2015 former Radcliffe rower Kirsten Van Fossen of Moorestown, New Jersey, won the award while a PhD student at the University of Cambridge.

A top OCU psychology student who rowed two-seat in the U23 lightweight quad that won a bronze medal at the U23 World Championships this summer, Francis was nominated for the award by his coaches, fellow students, and teachers.

"I didn't know anything about the award, and had to do some research about it after I found out," Francis said. "It really means a lot to me that they did nominate me. Last year was fantastic, for me and the team, and coming into my senior year we have kind of been focusing on culture and team dynamic at OCU," he said.

"We had taken some hits with people leaving and coaching changes but we have a new coaching staff, and we're changing the team dynamic to a more positive outlook and we've hit every single goal we've set so far this year."

The award not only brings recognition to the individual athlete, the winner gets a brand new Filippi eight, which Francis said would be given to OCU. "That would be incredible for my program."

US 2018 U23 light men's quad rowing in their heat this summer