The National Football Foundation’s Chapter Network The National Football Foundation’sPresented by Chapter Network Presented by FEB. 21, 2008 - Vol. 4, Issue 2 Building Leaders Through Football Columbus Chapter Scholar-Athletes Boast a 3.95 GPA ith 340 football enthusiasts in attendance, the Columbus (Ohio) WChapter held its 47th Annual Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet on February 11 at the Buckeye Hall of Fame Café. Chapter president Larry Romanoff, chapter officerJeff Logan and a strong board of directors continue to stage a first class event. Awards were given to 12 top area high school football scholar- athletes and seven college football scholar-athletes from Central Ohio. The high school scholar-athletes received John H. McConnell and Worthington Industries Foundation Scholarships in excess of $13,000. Andrew Koogler from Dublin Socioto High School won the coveted Sol Maggied Award, given to the top scholar-athlete from the high school award winners. The 12 high school scholar-athletes aver- OSU Coach Jim Tressel and OSU FB aged an impressive 3.95 GPA for the group. Several individuals from Tyler Whaley, a 2008 Scholar-Athlete this stellar class will be furthering their education at schools such as Award Recipient. Ohio State, University of Cincinnati, Bowling Green State University, Yale, MIT and Notre Dame. Two-time All-American Dwight “Ike” Kelly from Ohio State was honored with the Ohio Gold Award, the highest honor given by the chapter for contributions to amateur football. Former recipients include Eddie George, Chris Spielman, Woody Hayes and Jim Tressel among others. Coaches from the 12 high school programs and the seven col- lege programs, including Buckeyes head coach Jim Tressel, were in attendance along with parents, families, friends and corporate spon- sors. There were more than 50 former college football players in atten- Former Buckeye and current Indianapo- dance from more than 20 different college programs. Photos Courtesy lis Colt Antonio Smith spoke as a former of Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts.com. ■ scholar-athlete. Two-Time Buckeye All- Andrew Koogler claimed Westerville South HS Coach Former Buckeye RB Jeff America Ike Kelley (1963-65) the chapter’s top scholar- Ron Balconi received the Logan (1974-77) served as the claimed the Ohio Gold Award. athlete award. High School Coaches Award. emcee of the event. www.footballfoundation.org Page 1 Feb. 21, 2008 The National Football Foundation’s Chapter Network Presented by Legends Galore in Chicago hicago’s greatest turned out in force for the Chicago Metro Chapter’s annual scholar-athlete banquet Feb. C13 at Harry Caray’s Restaurant, paying tribute to the area’s top high school scholar-athletes and witness- ing the distribution of $10,000 in scholarships. Legends in attendance included former Chicago Bears standouts: Dan Jiggetts, Brian Baschnagel (a 1975 NFF National Scholar-Athlete from Ohio State), Bobby Douglass, and Jimbo Covert (a 2003 Col- lege Football Hall of Fame inductee from Pittsburgh). Other notables included: Leroy Keys (a 1990 College Football Hall of Fame inductee from Purdue University) and former Buffalo Bills head coach Marv Levy (a 2001 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame). The Chicago Bears front office and community relations staff also played a key role in the event. Under the leadership of chapter president Chris Kearney, $2,500 was presented to each of the four high school scholar-athletes: Nick Downey from Mundelein High School (Drake University), Jonathan Ellis from Immaculate Conception High School (DePauw University), Kevin Joy from Mundelein High School (U. of Illinois or Princeton) and Adam Shedor from Mundelein High School (Bradley University). University of Illinois head football coach Ron Zook delivered the keynote speech while Jarrett Payton spoke on behalf of the Walter Payton Cancer Fund and accepted a $1,500 donation from the chapter. Joey Allegretti, who received the chapter’s Award of Courage introduced Jarrett Payton and gave an inspiring update on his successful battle against Leukemia. ■ Jimbo Covert and Leroy Keyes Brian Baschnagel and Jarrett Payton Rob Perry, Marv Levy, Chris Kearney, Bobby Illinois head coach Ron Zook Douglass, Ryan O’Desky 2008 Chicago Metro Chapter Scholar-Athletes: Jonathan Ellis, Adam Shedor, Nick Downey, Kevin Joy www.footballfoundation.org Page 2 Feb. 21, 2008 The National Football Foundation’s Chapter Network Presented by Westchester All-Time Total Eclipses $350,000 Golden Dozen Honored for 35th Year he Westchester County Chapter celebrated its 35th Annual Awards Banquet on Jan. 31, distributing $17,000 in scholarships. Nearly T200 people gathered at the prestigious Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York, for the event at the storied club, which has witnessed countless PGA contests. With leadership from Chapter President Steve Joyce and chapter member Doug Mello, the chapter’s award committee had the challenging task of selecting the chapter’s “Golden Dozen” from the more than 60 lo- cal candidates. The chapter also presented 24 Honorable Mention Awards, bringing the total number of scholar-athletes honored to 36 individuals at the event. Following the death of his son in the terrorist attacks of 9/11, Mello endowed the chapter’s top scholar-athlete award in his son’s memory. Chris Murray of Broxnville HS took home top honors with the Chris Christopher Murray of Bronxville High School claimed the 2008 Chris Mello Scholar-Athlete Award. Mello Scholar-Athlete Award and gave an impressive speech in accep- tance. Chris Mello, a graduate of Rye High School, had claimed a scholar- athlete award from the chapter in 1994 before attending Princeton and beginning a career as a venture capitalist before his life was tragically cut short. The chapter also presented two scholarships named for two of the NFF erstwhile national leaders: The Vincent de Paul Draddy Scholarship and the William Morton Scholarship. Andy Adler, the New York Fox-TV Sports reporter, emceed the event alongside Joyce, and the Westchester County Officials Association endowed a new scholarship in memory of their long time colleague Tony Sabella. Since its inception, the chapter has presented more than $350,000 John Froats of Yorktown High in scholarships. ■ School was honored as a member of the Golden Dozen at the banquet. Golden Dozen Honoree Jordan Eck of Golden Dozen Honoree George Brere- Andy Adler of Fox 5 in New York Rye High School. ton of Mahopac High School. emceed the event. www.footballfoundation.org Page 3 Feb. 21, 2008 The National Football Foundation’s Chapter Network Presented by Lehigh Valley Tallies 48th Banquet in Style ne of the oldest and most established NFF outposts, the Lehigh Valley Chapter attracted more than 375 Opeople to their 48th annual scholar-athlete banquet on Feb. 10 at the North Hampton Community Center in Pennsylvania. Under the leadership of President Ed Watto and a strong board of directors, the chapter honored 34 scholar- athletes, one from each of the area high schools. The chapter also honored six college scholar-athletes from each of the area colleges: Lehigh University, Lafayette College, Muhlen- berg College, Moravian College, Kutztown University and East Stroudsburg University. Muhlenberg head football coach Mike Donnelly took the podium as the event’s keynote speaker. In his 11th season guiding the Mules, Donnelly’s 2007 squad produced a perfect 10-0 regular season, marking the school’s first unde- feated football season in its 106-year history. Joshua Hontz of Jim Thorpe High School received the chapter’s top scholar-athlete award, claiming a $2,000 scholarship. The 34 high school scholar-athletes compiled an 1800 average on their SAT tests with most earning member- ship in the National Honor Society while playing multiple sports. Five of the honorees also earned all-state football recognition. ■ Muhlenberg coach Mike Donnelly. Joshua Hontz accepts the top scholar-athlete award from Ed Watto and poses with his proud parents. The 2008 Lehigh Valley Scholar-Athletes www.footballfoundation.org Page 4 Feb. 21, 2008 The National Football Foundation’s Chapter Network Presented by 2008 NFF Chapter Award Banquets Over the next few months the NFF Chapter Network will distribute nearly $1 million to the best and the brigthest from the amateur gridiron at awards banquets nationwide. Covering more than 4,800 high schools and 400,000 student-athletes, the NFF stands as one of the leading voices in the promotion of leader- ship, sportsmanship, competitve zeal and the drive for academic excellence. Chapter and (Baquet Location) Date Chapter and (Banquet Location) Date Auburn (Auburn, AL) Mar. 27, 2008 South Jersey (Galloway, NJ) Mar. 2, 2008 Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR) Mar. 22, 2008 Passaic County (North Hale, NJ) Mar. 6, 2008 Valley of the Sun (Phoenix, AZ) Feb. 23, 2008 Essex County (West Orange, NJ) Mar. 11, 2008 Southern Arizona (Tuscon, AZ) Mar. 2, 2008 Delaware Valley (Princeton, NJ) Mar. 16, 2008 Northern California (San Francisco, CA) Feb. 21, 2008 Bill Denney (East Brunswick, NJ) Apr. 6, 2008 Pasadena (Pasadena, CA) Mar. 3, 2008 Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV) May 23, 2008 Orange County (Anaheim, CA) Mar. 3, 2008 Nassau County (Woodbury, NY) Dec. 2, 2007 Sacramento Valley (Sacramento, CA) Mar. 5, 2008 Suffok County (Woodbury, NY) Dec. 9, 2007 San Fernando (Studio City, CA) Mar. 11, 2008 Central New York (Verona, NY) Jan. 27, 2008 Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA) Mar. 14, 2008 Westchester County (Rye, NY) Jan. 31, 2008 Riverside County (Corona, CA) Mar. 16, 2008 Rochester, (Rochester, NY) Apr. 27, 2008 Walter J. Zable (San Diego, CA) Mar. 28, 2008 Southern Tier (Binghamton, NY) May 4, 2008 San Bernardino (San Bernardino, CA) May 17, 2008 Capital District (Albany, NY) May 12, 2008 Colorado (Denver, CO) Feb. 18, 2008 Columbus (Columbus, OH) Feb. 11, 2008 Gene J. Casey (New Haven, CT) Mar. 30, 2008 Cincinnati (Cincinnati, OH) Feb, 21, 2008 Southeastern Conn.