CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER TO HONOR 54 STUDENT-ATHLETES AT 20TH ANNUAL SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARDS DINNER
(STATE COLLEGE, PA) – The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, Central Pennsylvania Chapter, will honor 54 high school and college scholar-athletes at its 20th annual Awards Dinner on Sunday, March 12 at The Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center.
The 45 high school and nine college scholar-athletes will be honored, by the NFF, for their success on the field, in the classroom and commitment to community service. Seven high school student-athletes will receive scholarships while one high school scholar-athlete will win the prestigious Joe Sarra Award, in honor of the late Penn State football assistant coach.
“The scholar-athlete awards banquet is the keystone to our organization’s mission of using the power of amateur football in developing and celebrating leadership, sportsmanship, competitive spirit and academic excellence in America’s youth,“ said Chapter President Ron Pavlechko.
Since initiating the awards banquet in 1998, the Central Pennsylvania Chapter has awarded a total of $217,000 in scholarship money while honoring 719 scholar-athletes from high schools located in its 20-county coverage area.
“In keeping with tradition, the schools and families of Central Pennsylvania have helped to develop another outstanding class of scholar-athletes. It’s particularly exciting to honor these young men on our 20th anniversary,” said Past President Rob Oshinskie.
This year’s scholar-athletes will receive an inspiring message from former Penn State defensive standout Brandon Noble. Noble totaled 147 tackles and 14 sacks during his Nittany Lion career. He was named MVP of 1997 Fiesta Bowl and played professionally for 10 years.
Former Berwick Head Coach George Curry will be awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for coaching. Curry passed away after a battle with ALS. The award will be accepted by a family member.
Joining Noble as guest speakers will be Penn State Head Football Coach James Franklin and Athletic Director Sandy Barbour.
The event is open to the public and tickets can be purchased by calling 814-933-6201. The cost is $25 per ticket.
The NFF, Central Pennsylvania Chapter is one of 121 chapters nationwide involving over 12,000 members. The reach of the Central Pennsylvania Chapter encompasses 20 counties and 92 high schools.
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl “Red” Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The NFF & College Hall of Fame is a non-profit education organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people.
A list of high school and college scholarship nominees is attached below.
CENTRAL PA CHAPTER – NFF/CHOF
2016 – 2017 HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD NOMINEES
ALTOONA AREA HIGH SCHOOL Jacob Lindner
BALD EAGLE AREA HIGH SCHOOL Elias Myers
BEDFORD HIGH SCHOOL Brayden Shaffer
BELLEFONTE AREA HIGH SCHOOL Tyler Kreger
BELLWOOD-ANTIS HIGH SCHOOL Jarryd Kissell
BISHOP GUILFOYLE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Andrew Irwin
BLOOMSBURG AREA HIGH SCHOOL Nicholas Malatesta
BUCKTAIL AREA HIGH SCHOOL Mitchell Intallura
CAMBRIA HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL Justin Snedden
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL Jacob Muthler
CENTRAL MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL Spencer Wockenfuss
CLARION AREA JR-SR HIGH SCHOOL Ty Burford
CLAYBURG-KIMMEL HIGH SCHOOL Reid Walter
CLEARFIELD AREA HIGH SCHOOL Mason Royer
CURWENSVILLE AREA HIGH SCHOOL Kevin Shaffer
DANVILLE AREA HIGH SCHOOL Trent Hilkert
DUBOIS AREA HIGH SCHOOL Ryan Pasternak
EAST JUNIATA –MIDD WEST HIGH SCHOOLS Mason Hambright
EVERETT AREA HIGH SCHOOL Derek Lasch
FOREST HILLS HIGH SCHOOL Tanner Gavlak
GLENDALE HIGH SCHOOL Bailey Sinclair
GREATER JOHNSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL Tavis Price
HOLLIDAYSBURG AREA HIGH SCHOOL Nick Piacentini
HOMER-CENTER JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL Jesse Beacker
HUNTINGDON AREA HIGH SCHOOL Zebulon Fowler
JERSEY SHORE AREA HIGH SCHOOL Todd Sanford
JUNIATA HIGH SCHOOL Fletcher Hart
JUNIATA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL Kristopher Harker
LEWISBURG AREA HIGH SCHOOL David Gose
LOYALSOCK TOWN./ST. JOHN NEUMAN HS Alden Mileto
MIFFLIN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL Isaac Maclay
MOSHANNON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL Curtis Neff
MOUNT UNION AREA HIGH SCHOOL James Woods
NORTHERN BEDFORD COUNTY Jacob dasher
PENN CAMBRIA HIGH SCHOOL Kamryn Stoy
PENNS VALLEY AREA HIGH SCHOOL Jared Hurd
RICHLAND HIGH SCHOOL Brady Thomas
ST. JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC ACADEMY Jake Stormer
SOUTHERN COLUMBIA AREA HIGH SCHOOL Cameron Young
STATE COLLEGE AREA HIGH SCHOOL Pete Haffner
TYRONE AREA HIGH SCHOOL Levi Raling
UNITED JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL Devin Mack
WEST BRANCH HIGH SCHOOL Cameron Lytle
WILLIAMSBURG HIGH SCHOOL Patrick McCauley
WILLIAMSPORT AREA HIGH SCHOOL Tyler Anderson
CENTRAL PA CHAPTER – NFF/CHOF
2016 – 2017 COLLEGE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD HONOREES
BLOOMSBURG UNIVERSITY Andrew Harris – Linebacker
BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY Cary Hess – Offensive Line
INDIANA UNIVERSITY OF PA Steve Franco – Defensive Back
JUNIATA COLLEGE Jacob Diviney – Linebacker
LOCK HAVEN UNIVERSITY Caleb Walton – Quarterback
LYCOMING COLLEGE Austin Mital – Offensive Line
PENN STATE UNIVERSITY Tyler Yazujian – Long Snapper
ST. FRANCIS UNIVERSITY Jimmy Marks – Offensive Line
SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY Dylan Jenkins – Punte
