National Scholar-Athlete Awards

"The Most Prestigious Scholarships In College Football Since 1959"

Endowed Scholar-Athlete Awards
Current Recipients
Former Recipients

In 1959, The National Football Foundation unveiled an entirely new concept in college football -- it's National Scholar-Athlete program. In the history of American sports, this was the first time an organization honored football players, not only for their athletic ability, but also for their academic and civic leadership. The Foundation's National Scholar-Athlete Awards program consists of graduate fellowships that are awarded on an annual basis to a select group of college football players in their senior year of eligibility who have demonstrated outstanding academic success, exemplary community leadership and superior football performance.

Every fall, The National Football Foundation's Awards Committee selects approximately 15 scholar-athletes from across the country for these prestigious $18,000 fellowships that can be used for postgraduate studies. The Committee draws from all levels of college football, including Division I-A, I-AA, II, III and the NAIA, in making their selections. The committee also designates one of the 15 recipients as the top college football Scholar-Athlete of the Year, an honor that comes with the Draddy Trophy presented by HealthSouth. Named in memory of the Foundation’s former chairman, Vincent dePaul Draddy, the award adds an additional $7,000 to the scholarship for a total of $25,000.

The 15 recipients may also be eligible for supplemental grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 for study in specialized areas.

Each recipient travels to New York City as the guest for the Foundation’s Annual Awards Dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria, where they sit on the dais for the College Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies. Their accomplishments are highlighted in front of a star-studded audience of more than 1,500 people.


ENDOWED SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARDS
Over the past several years, the Foundation has worked to secure the future of the scholarships through individual endowment gifts. In 1997, Harold Alfond became the first to endow a National Scholar-Athlete Award. In 2003, George M. Steinbrenner III became the first to endow two National Scholar-Athlete Awards. Today, the future has been secured for 13 of the 15 annual $18,000 scholarships, thanks to the leadership of the following individuals and organizations:

The Draddy Trophy , presented by HealthSouth
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
In 2001, HealthSouth, one of the nation's largest outpatient surgery and rehabilitative healthcare providers, assumed sponsorship of The Draddy Trophy , one of college football's most sought-after and competitive awards. Named in honor of the late NFF Chairman Vincent DePaul Draddy, a Manhattan College quarterback who developed the Izod and Lacoste brands, the trophy recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership. After Draddy's passing in July of 1990, the NFF perpetuated his memory and beliefs by establishing a scholarship that would recognize the Scholar-Athlete who most fully embodies the ideals of The National Football Foundation. HealthSouth became affiliated with the award to further the standards of excellence in athletic competition and academic achievement.

Harold Alfond Scholar-Athlete Award
Endowed by the Harold Alfond Foundation in 1997
The Founder of Dexter Shoe Company, Mr. Alfond's munificence has provided millions of dollars in support of athletics, medical and educational causes. Never missing an Awards Dinner, Mr. Alfond received the Foundation's highest honor - the Gold Medal - in 1995. Alfond said, "I urge others to get behind this endowment drive. These Scholar-Athletes are our best leaders of the future. We need to recognize and honor academic and civic leadership."

E. Douglas Kenna Scholar-Athlete Award
Endowed by E. Douglas Kenna in 1997
The quintessential athlete, scholar, businessman and community leader, Doug Kenna quarterbacked the 1944 Army team to a national championship and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1984. He also claimed All-America basketball status while at West Point, captained the tennis team and was Class President and Regimental Commander. After serving America in Germany, he returned to be one of Col. Earl Blaik's assistant coaches before entering the business world. He held several executive positions including President and Director of Carrier Corporation, G.L. Ohrstrom & Company, Roper Industries and Robert B. Anderson Company.

Jefferson W. Kirby Scholar-Athlete Award
Endowed by The F.M. Kirby Foundation in 2005
Founder and managing member of Broadfield Capital, an investment firm located in Morristown, New Jersey, Kirby has been a board member of The National Football Foundation since 1998. Known as an astute businessman, Kirby has served on numerous corporate boards, including currently that of the Alleghany Corporation. He is an alumnus of Lafayette College; holds an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University; and serves as a board member of each institution.

William Pearce / Joseph V. Paterno Scholar-Athlete Award
Endowed by William A. Schreyer in 1997
In honor of two of his dearest friends, the late NFF Chairman Bill Pearce and Penn State's Joe Paterno, William Schreyer endowed a National Scholar-Athlete Award in 1997. Chairman Emeritus of Merrill Lynch and a graduate of Penn State University, Schreyer served for many years as a member of the NFF Board of Directors. An extraordinary gift of $30 million to Penn State to create the Schreyer Honors College truly changed the shape of the institution. On his gift to the NFF, Schreyer said, "My contribution honors my good friends whose dedication to academic ideals is an inspiration."

Robert A. Simms Scholar-Athlete Award
Endowed by Robert A. Simms in 1997
A former football star at Rutgers University, Robert Simms endowed a Scholar-Athlete Award in 1997. After graduating from Rutgers in 1960, Simms played three seasons in the NFL with the NY Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers before embarking on a business career that included stints with Jackson & Curtis, Black & Company, and Bear, Stearns & Company, where he made General Partner. Today, he is Chairman and CEO of Simms Capital Management and sits on the NFF's Board of Directors, heading the Finance Investment Committee.

Coach Eddie Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award
Endowed by the George M. Steinbrenner Family and the New York Yankees Foundation in 1997

Coach Lou Saban Scholar-Athlete Award
Endowed by George M. Steinbrenner III in 2003
Aside from his well-known success with the New York Yankees, Mr. Steinbrenner has been a staunch supporter of the NFF for many years, served as Chairman of the U.S. Olympic Overview Commission and the Olympic Foundation and Vice Chairman of the Olympic Committee. A multi-sport athlete at Culver Military Academy, Steinbrenner matriculated to Williams College before becoming an assistant football coach at Northwestern and Purdue. Mr. Steinbrenner received the Foundation's Gold Medal in 2003. When establishing these two endowments, he named them in honor of his longtime friends, Coaches Eddie Robinson and Lou Saban.

William V. Campbell Scholar-Athlete Award
Endowed by the Campbell Family Foundation in 2005
First as a standout player and captain of an Ivy League championship team at Columbia and then as the Lions' Head Football Coach, Bill Campbell has never forgotten his connection to the gridiron. Having achieved significant success in the business world with high-level executive positions at Eastman Kodak and Apple Computer and currently as chairman of the board for Intuit, Campbell has a passion for giving back to the game. For his contributions to the game and success in the business world, The National Football Foundation honored him with its Gold Medal in 2004. In accepting the award, Campbell said, "I believe in selflessness and ensuring that the group, the unit, the business, the team succeeds. I have learned that from this game, and I so desperately want others to have the opportunity to learn that as well."

F.M. Kirby Scholar-Athlete Award
Endowed by The F.M. Kirby Foundation in 1997
Mr. Kirby has been a member of the NFF's Board of Directors since 1982. In recognition of his many years of leadership and unwavering support, in 1997 the Foundation named one of the National Scholar-Athlete Awards in his honor. A graduate of Lafayette College, Kirby played on the Leopards undefeated 1940 football team. After serving as a Naval Reserve Officer in World War II, he earned an MBA from Harvard. Kirby went on to be chairman and CEO of Allegheny Corporation and also served as a director of many of the nation's largest corporations and financial institutions. His philanthropic involvement continues through the F.M. Kirby Foundation. In 2000, he received the Foundation's Highest Honor - the Gold Medal.

The National Football League Scholar-Athlete Award
Endowed by the National Football League in 1999
The National Football League has always been supportive of the NFF's programs and mission. Their commitment to endow a National Scholar-Athlete Award in 1999 only strengthened that position and further exemplifies the NFL's commitment to education and youth development.

John H. McConnell Scholar-Athlete Award
Endowed by John H. McConnell in 1999
Following his service in the Navy during World War II, Mr. McConnell enrolled at Michigan State where he played offensive guard for the Spartans. He founded Worthington Industries in 1955 and built the company into an international manufacturing company with revenues of approximately $2 billion. Worthington stands as a testament to his extraordinary vision, values and perseverance. Among the many business and civic honors bestowed on him McConnell received the NFF's Gold Medal, the Foundation’s highest honor, in 1998.

NATIONAL SCHOLAR-ATHLETE CRITERIA
The qualifications are as follows:
• The nominee must be a senior or a graduate student, and in his final year of eligibility.
• The nominee must have attained a minimum grade point average of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale.
• The nominee must have shown superior academic application and performance.
• The nominee must have shown outstanding football ability as a first team player.
• The nominee must have demonstrated outstanding school leadership and citizenship.

Only one candidate per institution may be submitted.

The National Football Foundation's Awards Committee utilizes a 40-40-20 grading system, whereby up to 40 points may be credited toward academic accomplishments; 40 points toward football performance; and 20 points awarded for school/civic/community activities.

ALL FOOTBALL PLAYING INSTITUTIONS (I-A, I-AA, II, III and NAIA) ARE ENCOURAGED TO MAKE A NOMINATION.