Columbus Chapter National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame ERNIE GODFREY, FOUNDER presents THE 54th ANNUAL SCHOLAR - ATHLETE BANQUET Honoring Central Ohio Scholar-Athletes and Troy Smith, The Ohio Gold Award Winner Monday, February 9, 2015 Ohio Union - The Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio Program Invocation Jake Jackson, President-Elect Dinner – Silent and Live Auction Welcome and Introduction of Special Guests John Wooldridge, President Live Auction (silent auction closes at completion of Live Auction) Open Microphone Segment Presentation - The 2015 Larry Larson High School Coaching Award Presented to: Coach Bob Jacoby Presentation - The 2015 Tyson Gentry Courage Award Presented to: Alex Malarkey Presentation – Where Are They Now? Brandon Schnittker Presentation – 2015 Central Ohio College Scholar-Athlete Awards Presentation - The 2015 John H. McConnell and Worthington Industries Foundation High School Scholar-Athlete Awards and Scholarships Presentation - The 2015 Dr. Sol Maggied/Larry Romanoff Award Presentation - The 2015 Ohio Gold Award Presented to: Troy Smith Final Comments 1 Columbus Chapter - National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Board Members 2014-2015 President – John Wooldridge Past President – Bill Wells Treasurer – Jeffrey Logan Secretary – Shannon Pierce Steve Schneider, Chairman – High School Scholar – Athletes Jake Jackson, Kirk Barton, Chairmen – College Scholar – Athletes Matt Calhoun Tyson Gentry Dan Havener Mac Lawless Dena Logan Larry Romanoff Michael Shannon Mark Stier Lewis VanHoose 2 2015 Central Ohio High School Scholar-Athletes Nominees for the Nationwide Insurance Dr. Sol Maggied and Larry Romanoff Award ALEx CLINE Dublin Jerome High School Dublin Jerome’s Alex Cline represents the OCC-Cardinal. Alex is a two-year letterman for the Celtics, as well as the winner of the team’s Ironman Award and named 1st Team All- OCC. Alex is also a member of the basketball team and partici- pates in the Celtic Advisory program. He’s vice president of the National Honor Society. Outside of school, he is an AAU girls’ basketball coach and works with the Christian Founda- tion for Children and Aging. Alex holds a 4.3 GPA and is undecided on where he will attend college. He is the son of Jim and Patti Cline and was coached in football by Mark Hundley. Jacob SHUFORD Walnut Ridge High School Jacob Shuford represents the Columbus City League South Division. He was co-captain of the Walnut Ridge football team where he was a three-year letter winner and a two time academic MVP. He also is a member of the wrestling and track teams. Outside of sports, Jacob is vice president of the student gov- ernment and a member of the National Honor Society. He has received the Academic Excellence award and is a member of the Super Honor Roll. Jacob has a 3.86 GPA and will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is the son of Tracy Shuford and was coached in football by Byron Mattox. 3 Maurice Chatman Mifflin High School Mifflin’s Maurice Chatman is the representative from the Columbus City League North Division. He was team captain and named All-City. He is a member of the track team and was a district quali- fier on the wrestling team. Maurice also participates in Upward Bound and is a senior class officer. He is the recipient of the Principal’s Award, and was also named to the Super Honor Roll. Maurice has a 3.9 GPA and is deciding among Akron, Bowling Green, Toledo, or Tiffin for college. He is the son of Donald Chat- man and was coached in football by Gregg Miller. Tristan BENDER Loudonville High School Tristan Bender represents the Mid-Buckeye Conference and Loudonville High School. As a senior, he was named Defensive Player of the Year and set the school record for tackles in a season with 168. He was also named 1st Team All-Conference and was the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year and 1st Team All- Ohio. He is also a member of the wrestling and track teams. Outside of sports he is class president and a member of the yearbook club. The National Honor Society member carries a 3.987 GPA and is undecided on his choice of college. He is the son of Tom and Tracey Bender and was coached in football by Justin Todd. Nathan CLEVENGER Fairbanks High School Nathan Clevenger from Fairbanks High School represents the MOAC-Red. He was named All-State honorable mention and was team captain as a senior. He received academic awards all four years. Nathan also plays baseball and basketball. He is president of both the National Honor Society and Student Council. He is also a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. In 2014, he was crowned Homecoming King. He has a 3.6 GPA and will attend Ohio University. Nathan is the son of Todd and Clara Clevenger and was coached in football by Dave Gebhart. 4 Brendan MAPES Centerburg High School Brendan Mapes represents the MOAC-Blue. He was team captain for the Centerburg football team and was named 1st Team All-League, All-District, and All-Region. He also plays baseball and basketball. Brendan is a member of the speech and debate club, quiz bowl, the robotics team and is president of the student council. He is also a member of the National Honor Society. Brendan, who has a 4.2 GPA, is considering Case Western or Oberlin, where he plans to study Mechanical Engineering. He is the son of Bruce and Penny Mapes and was coached in football by Jim Stoyle. Jack BILLMAN St. Charles Preparatory School Jack Billman represents St. Charles and the CCL-Silver. He was team captain as a senior and named Academic All-Ohio. He was special mention All-District as a senior. Jack also plays basketball. He’s a member of the National Honor Society and is a Eucharistic Minister. He has been on the honor roll every quarter of high school. Jack has volunteered for many events in the central Ohio community. He holds a 3.68 GPA and is deciding between South Carolina, Miami (OH), Clemson, or Indiana for college. He is the son of Michael and Kathryn Billman and was coached in football by Jeff Pharion. Mitchell WILLIS Newark Catholic Newark Catholic’s Mitchell Willis represents the Licking County League (Small Division). As a senior he was team captain, as well as 1st Team All-League and 1st Team All-District. In addition to football, Mitchell plays basketball and baseball. He’s the senior class president and a member of key club. He was also the 2014 Homecoming King. Mitchell holds a 3.84 GPA and is deciding between Case Western, Dayton, or Brown. He is the son of Todd and Renee Willis and was coached in football by Bill Franks. 5 CONNOR SLADE Olentangy High School Connor Slade represents the OCC-Capital and Olentangy High School. The 2-year football letterman was the OCC’s Co-Player of the Year, District Defensive Player of the Year, and 1st Team All- Ohio. He is also a member of the wrestling team where he’s a 4-year letter winner and district qualifier. Connor is a member of the National Honor Society and the service club. He also volunteers with local youth sports. Connor has a 3.6 GPA and plans to study aeronautical engi- neering at a college to be determined. He is the son of Rick and Shannon Slade and was coached in football by Mark Solis. WILLIAM MERRILL Logan Elm High School Logan Elm’s William Merrill represents the MSL-Buckeye. He was named 2nd Team All-County and received team awards for sportsmanship, honor, and integrity William is also a member of the track team, National Honor Society, key club, and FFA. He’s an honor roll student with a 4.15 GPA. He is undecided on his choice of college. William is the son of Frank and Lisa Merrill and was coached in football by Scott Bartholomew. MARKUS BAILEY Hilliard Davidson High School Markus Bailey from Hilliard Davidson represents the OCC- Central. He was team MVP and 1st Team All-OCC as a senior, as well as 1st Team All-District. He has also been a member of the basketball and track teams. He volunteers with the touchdown club and the booster club. Academically, he has a 4.15 GPA and has received the Aca- demic Achievement Award and the Academic Honors Award all through high school. He’s also a 12-time member of the Principal’s Roll. Markus will attend Purdue University. He’s the son of Amy Bailey and was coached in football by Brian White. 6 CONNOR DICKERSON West Jefferson High School Connor Dickerson represents West Jefferson High School and the MSL-Ohio. As a senior he was team captain and the school’s nominee for Wendy’s High School Heisman. He was named 2nd Team All MSL-Ohio, 1st Team Central District, and Special Men- tion All-State. He’s also a member of the baseball and basketball teams. Outside of sports, he is a member of the National Honor Society, student council and the chess club. He also enjoys art. Connor holds a 4.0 GPA and will attend the Russ College of Engineering at Ohio University. He is the son of Richard and Joan Dickerson and was coached in football by Shawn Buescher. HUNTER PHARIS Harvest Preparatory School Harvest Prep’s Hunter Pharis is the representative for the MSL- Cardinal. He was named top defensive player by his team and was 1st Team All-League, 1st Team All-District, 1st Team All-State, and the 2014 AP Central District Defensive Player of the Year.