BY CRYSTAL STEVENS

So we exchanged numbers and arranged a meeting. Nolin and his mother drove down from Atmore, Alabama, about an hour away from our office in downtown Pensacola. Ten-year-old Nolin was proudly holding a 16×20 canvas with a picture he’d painted in bright acrylic hues of a shark chasing a marlin. Dressed in a salmon-colored button down and khaki cargos, sporting a summertime-spent-on-the-water tan and light blonde hair, he’s your typical Southern boy. I offered them some cookies, and when Nolin bypassed the chocolate chip for the oatmeal raisin, I knew he wasn’t your typical 10-year-old.

Nolin launched right into his story. This kid knows what he’s about. His mother filled in details Nolin skipped over in his excitement. We started with the cursory things—he plays football, but likes soccer better because he gets to run more. He likes to draw, paint (pause to breathe) and really likes fishing.

Nolin sounded so much like someone else we know it was rather spooky. But that’s the reason he was here. He began drawing when he was two years old. Not puppies, not flowers or trucks or airplanes, but sharks. From an early age, he was absolutely obsessed with sharks to the point of preferring National Geographic Channel, Discovery Channel and documentaries over cartoons (raisins vs. chocolate chips). Any time he isn’t fishing or running around on the practice field, he has his pencil in hand drawing the animals from these shows.

His artistic abilities and passion is such a part of who he is that even at school during free time his classmates crowd around asking him for his drawings. He likes to leave his mark on any suitable writing surface, and has crafted his signature to give a nod to his idol, Guy Harvey. Guy has been the source of Nolin’s inspiration for quite some time. That’s why last year his family took him to the Cayman Islands to meet the Man himself. Nolin, always his own man, entered Guy’s studio with a drawing in hand to show the good doctor and get his opinion. Guy was impressed with Nolin’s work and gave the young artist some pointers. He suggested that he “turn the tail of the sharks around” so that it appears to be coming out toward the viewer, and that Nolin include references to the surface in his work. He even let his protégé set up shop at his desk and work on his drawings while he painted. So their friendship was established.

Nolin Godwin | Photo: Crystal Stevens

Later that year, Nolin and his family met Guy again in Panama City, Florida, at an event where Guy was busy filming his documentary Sharks of North America. He even featured his young fan in the special. Summer came and went, and along the way, Nolin broke his arm while go-carting. This unfortunate accident led him to a wonderful discovery. Nolin was limited in his activities, so his Aunt Ruth bought him a set of paints. Turns out, Nolin is not only adroit at drawing, but also at painting. Later, at a signing at the Bass Pro Shop in Malbis, Alabama, Nolin once again met up with his hero and friend. His mother promised Guy they were not stalking him, and Guy was genuinely pleased to see them. Nolin had brought Guy a “Thank You” note for all of his time and attention while in Cayman, and for the interview. Nolin also told Dr. Harvey that he wanted to start selling his paintings. Guy answered him very seriously that he thought he should. Nolin made a promise to Dr. Harvey that he was going to give $1,000 to the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation.

Armed with the blessing of his mentor and a cause worth fighting for, Nolin went to work. For several months, Nolin painted away and sold his art to family and friends around his town. All in all, he raised $1,500. After giving some to his church, and purchasing some diving gear, Nolin had his $1,000 for the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation.

July of last year brought the Godwins and extended family back to the Cayman Islands and back to the company of their old friend. Guy was happy to see them, and was utterly surprised by Nolin’s gift of $1,000 to the GHOF. Just like before, Nolin set up shop in the gallery, and when a tour from a passing cruise ship arrived, Guy proudly introduced Nolin as a future marine biologist.

My favorite part of our interview was when Nolin described his day out at Stingray City with Guy and his team. The Godwin group was picked up promptly at the end of their dock by Guy, and joined Dr. Mahmood Shivji and Guy’s daughter, Jessica, for a stingray tagging project. Nolin was tasked with helping to get the stingray in a net. His partner, one of the researchers (and Nolin doubled over at this) fell over the side of the boat and landed in the drink. “She literally did a flip right into the water!” Nolin also got in the water (intentionally) with the stingrays and researchers. Guy gave him the tail of a tuna to feed the rays, and they covered him completely trying to get a bit of lunch. Nolin exclaimed, “I had no idea these things were so eager to eat!”

Clearly, Nolin is a super-fan. The future of science and conservation depends on kids like him, young people who admire and desire to emulate more than sports heroes, pop singers and movie stars. Rather, they want to use their talent to make the world a better place through hard work, humility and generosity.