National Football Foundation - Chicago Metro Chapter Awards Ceremony

1920 Football Drive,Lake Forest IL 60045

20 February, 2023

Description

• Monday, February 20, 2023 (President's Day) from 3:30-6pm. • Jeff Joniak (the play-by-play Voice of the Chicago Bears) is Master of Ceremonies. • The National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Awards will be provided to Chicago area high school seniors that excel in athletics, in the classroom and in the community. Scholarship recipients are nominated by their high school coach each November. The Award recipients are Brad Abbott (Lincoln-Way East High School), Sarah Ball (Willowbrook High School) and Luke Cerwin (Carmel Catholic High School). • The Chicago Bears Community Champion Awards will be presented to high school senior football players that have demonstrated excellence in their community and volunteer endeavors. The Award recipients are Lawrence Nalls III (Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy) and Luciano Rolando (St. Edward Central Catholic High School). • Since 2006, more than $300,000 in college scholarships have been provided to Chicago area student-athletes. Each of the student-athletes receiving awards will receive partial tuition scholarships. Nationally, more than $1 million in college scholarships are provided annually by the NFF. • Among recent speakers and/or attendees at the event are Pro Football Hall of Famers Ted Hendricks and Dan Hampton, retired Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany, Northwestern Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald, former Minnesota and NIU Head Coach Jerry Kill, Illinois State Head Coach Brock Spack, American Youth Football Hall of Famer Carl Allegretti, Chicago Bears (Richard Dent, Sherrick McManus, Steve McMichael, Brian Baschnagel, Gary Fencik, Bob Thomas, Mickey Pruitt, Emery Moorehead, Glen Kozlowski, Bobby Douglass, Patrick Mannelly), 2011 College Football National Championship Referee Bill LeMonnier, record-setting college QB's Dan Persa and Chandler Harnish, and more. • Fred Mitchell will present the 2022 Fred Mitchell Award. This Award is presented to the top FCS, Division II, Division III, NAIA or NJCAA place-kicker (750+ eligible kickers) based on performance on the football field and in the community. • Former NFL/college football players will attend. Prior year attendees have included Chicago Bears President/CEO Ted Phillips, Chicago Bears ownership from the McCaskey family, Green Bay Packers President Mark Murphy, Heisman Trophy winners Gary Beban (UCLA) and John Lattner (Notre Dame), Northwestern Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald, Temple Head Coach Rod Carey, North Carolina State Head Coach Dave Doeren, former Illinois Head Coaches Tim Beckman and Ron Zook, New Mexico State Head Coach Jerry Kill, Illinois State Head Coach Brock Spack, Saint Xavier Head Coach Mike Feminis, Purdue Head Coach Joe Tiller, College Football Hall of Famers (Jim Covert, Steve McMichael, Tom Beck, Chris Zorich, Chris Bisaillon, Leroy Keyes, Pat Fitzgerald), Pro Football Hall of Famers (Marv Levy, Richard Dent, Dave Casper, Ted Hendricks, Dan Hampton), John Mackey Award winner Tim Stratton, Kyle Orton, Jarrett Payton, Dan Jiggetts, Dave Revsine, Howard Griffith, Tom Zbikowski, Mickey Pruitt, Glen Kozlowski, Brian Baschnagel, Desmond Clark, Bobby Douglass, Gary Fencik, Bob Thomas, Emery Moorehead and more. • Proceeds are used to provide college scholarships at this event, with a match provided by a generous contribution from Bears Care. • Space is limited to 120 people on a first-to-register basis. • Only registered attendees can attend the Awards Ceremony. Your name must be on the attendee list for Halas Hall security to enter Halas Hall. There are no paper tickets to this event. • Business casual attire. Soft drinks and bottled water will be provided to all attendees. Please contact Chris Kearney ([email protected]) or Wolfe Tone ([email protected]) if you have any questions. Special thanks again to Bears Care, the charitable arm of the Chicago Bears!