CONTACTS:
Brandon Johnson Rich Desrosiers
Great American Rivalry Series Pro Football Hall of Fame
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 17, 2020
Great American Rivalry Series®, Pro Football Hall of Fame Announce Inaugural
Scholar Athlete Hall of Fame Team
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Great American Rivalry Series® (GARS) along with the Pro Football Hall of Fame (PFHOF) are proud to announce the inaugural Great American Rivalry Series Scholar Athlete Hall of Fame Team.
The team is comprised of total of 25 outstanding student-athletes from across the country who were part of 144 GARS Scholar Athletes selected from across the country.
“We are proud to announce the first ever Great American Rivalry Series Scholar Athlete Hall of Fame Team,” GARS founder Rick Ford said. “The dedication and commitment to success these student athletes showcase each day is exemplary, especially facing the challenges presented this year.”
The Great American Rivalry Series, now in its 17th year, recognizes Scholar Athletes for their “on the field” and “in the classroom” success. Each of the GARS Scholar Athletes were awarded a college scholarship and commemorative plaque recognizing their placement on the team. The 25 members of the first-ever Great American Rivalry Series Scholar Athlete Hall of Fame Team were selected from the 144 GARS Scholar Athletes for 2020 through a nationwide voting process.
“The 25 players named to this inaugural Scholar-Athlete team are shining examples of what’s possible when the Values of the Pro Football Hall of Fame are demonstrated on the field and in the classroom,” said Pat Lindesmith, Chief Partnership Officer and Senior Vice President of Gold Jacket Relations. “Leading others by showing that level of Commitment, Integrity, Courage, Respect and Excellence every day will result in many successes for the rest of their lives.”
The voting process ran October 19th through December 13th and allowed students, parents, fans and community members to vote and show support for their GARS Scholar Athlete. The 25 GARS Scholar Athletes with the most votes earned their spot on the prestigious Scholar Athlete Hall of Fame Team along with an additional scholarship.
Below is the list of the inaugural Great American Rivalry Series Scholar Athlete Hall of Fame Team:
Caleb Shawen | RB | Mead High School | Spokane, WA |
Jimmy Rolder | LB | Marist High School | Chicago, IL |
Thomas “Mack” West | K/P | Richmond Senior High School | Rockingham, NC |
Tommy Dunn | OL | Rome Free Academy | Rome, NY |
Logan Schwartz | OT | Depew High School | Depew, NY |
James John | DB | Hamilton High School | Chandler, AZ |
Dylan Chaney | LB | Piqua High School | Piqua, OH |
Conner Alford | OL/DL | FJ Reitz High School | Evansville, IN |
Quinton Martin | LT | Gardiner Area High School | Gardiner, ME |
Austin Garrison | CB/WR | Hillcrest High School | Simpsonville, SC |
Braden McGowan | LS/RB | Ben Davis High School | Indianapolis, IN |
Liam Mitchell | OL | Saint Joseph Regional High School | Montvale, NJ |
Aidan Swanner | DT/OG | West Monroe High School | West Monroe, LA |
Samuel Cochran | LB | Concord High School | Concord, NC |
Cooper Miethe | MLB | Mt. Spokane High School | Mead, WA |
Ethan Kowalski | OL | Lancaster High School | Lancaster, NY |
Jordan Calvin | OLB | DeSmet Jesuit High School | St. Louis, MO |
Braxton Baumann | DE | Alcoa High School | Alcoa, TN |
Patrick Maloney | QB | Blue Springs High School | Blue Springs, MO |
Alex Bennett | WR/DB | Martins Ferry High School | Martins Ferry, OH |
Dalton Schellhammer | OL | Lakeland High School | Lakeland, FL |
Jake Kazanowsky | QB | Toms River High School North | Toms River, NJ |
Ian Paul | LB | Shamokin Area High School | Coal Township, PA |
Michael Zeszutek | C | Middletown High School | Middletown, NY |
Nick Paradise | OL | Hoover High School | Hoover, AL |
The United States Marine Corps continued its long-standing association with the Great American Rivalry Series.
“The elite status of the Rivalry Series and Hall of Fame fits perfectly with the Fighting Spirit of the Marine Corps and these fine young athletes,” said Leroy Pennington, Marine Corps Marketing Specialist. “They have earned their status as a member of the first-ever Great American Rivalry Series Scholar Athlete Hall of Fame Team and we’re honored to recognize their accomplishments.”
The team will be announced live today at Noon EST on the Great American Rivalry Series Facebook Page. To view the full list of 144 GARS Scholar Athletes or for more information on the Great American Rivalry Series, visit greatamericanrivlary.com.
ABOUT BRAINBOX IMMERSIVE MARKETING
BRAINBOX Immersive Marketing, founder of Great American Rivalry Series®, is a leader in activating digital and social media marketing as well as planning, conducting, and executing events for major brands since 1999. The Rivalry Series is celebrating its 17th year and will activate its 1000th game in 2021. The company has activated over 7000 successful marketing events during its 21-year history, while donating more than $15 million to high school athletics.
ABOUT THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
Located in Canton, Ohio, the birthplace of the National Football League, the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit institution with the Mission to Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values, & Celebrate Excellence Everywhere. The Pro Football Hall of Fame is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. AAM accreditation is national recognition for the museum’s commitment to excellence and the highest professional standards of museum operation and public service.
Hundreds of thousands of fans from across the globe travel to Canton annually to experience “The Most Inspiring Place on Earth!” that chronicles America’s most popular sport. Fans can also enjoy the Hall of Fame Store at the Hall, and online at www.profootballhof.com/store, for merchandise from all 32 NFL clubs plus the Hall of Fame. Proceeds from the Store support the Hall’s Mission.
Construction on Hall of Fame Village Powered by Johnson Controls, a mixed-use development project, is under way in Canton to transform the Hall of Fame’s campus.
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