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Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
John Orr (left) and Andrew Griffin are two of the five recipients of a 2016 National High School Scholar-Athlete Award.
Princeton Football Claims Two Of Five National NFF Scholar-Athlete High School Honors
October 05, 2016 | Football
Andrew Griffin, a wide receiver from Avon, Ind., and John Orr, a linebacker from Nashville, Tenn., are two of the five recipients — from a pool of more than 1.1 million high school football players — of the prestigious 2016 NFF National High School Scholar-Athlete Awards. Each of the five recipients is selected as the best of the best from his region of the country at the high school level. The five honorees, who are now playing college football after graduating high school in 2016, are being recognized solely for their accomplishments in high school.
Princeton is the only school to have multiple honorees of a 2016 National High School Scholar-Athlete Award, and it is the only Ivy League school to have an honoree. Among the other schools honored are Stanford and Michigan.
"I am thrilled for both Andrew and John, and I thank the National Football Foundation for continuing to celebrate the hard work and success of our high school football players," said Princeton head coach Bob Surace, who has coached multiple honorees during his time at Princeton, including current sophomore Richard Bush. "Andrew and John represent everything that we look for in a Princeton football player. They are competitive both on the field and in the classroom, and they put in the time, energy and effort to be the best at everything they do. They are a credit to this University, and to the long tradition of Tiger Football."
"The NFF National High School Scholar-Athlete Awards showcase first-class high school football players from across the country," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "This year's honorees have set the standard for accomplishment on the field, in the classroom and in the community. We are truly proud to honor their success in December."
You can read more from the full release, including bios of both Griffin and Orr, from the National Football Foundation below.
2016 NFF National High School Scholar-Athlete Honorees
(Currently college freshmen, the award is solely based on high school accomplishments.)
The five scholar-athletes will travel to New York City to be honored during the NFF Chapter Awards Luncheon, presented by Under Armour, on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at the Waldorf Astoria. First bestowed in 1991, the NFF National High School Scholar-Athlete Awards have become one of the most prestigious high school honors in the country. Criteria for the award include, but are not limited to, academic achievement, athletic accolades and community involvement.
With 120 chapters and more than 12,000 members, the NFF Chapter Network impacts more than 500,000 student-athletes at 5,000 high schools in 47 states each year. The centerpiece of their efforts are the annual chapter awards banquets, which recognize more than 3,500 of the nation's top scholar-athletes and distribute more than $1 million in scholarships. From this pool of 3,500 scholar-athletes, the chapters nominated 36 individuals in 2016 as finalists for the highly coveted NFF National High School Scholar-Athlete Awards.
During the past 25 years, 110 student-athletes have been recognized as NFF National High School Scholar-Athletes, and this year will mark the 26th class of honorees. Past NFF National High School Scholar-Athletes have gone on to hold various titles, including president, CEO, vice president, lawyer, NFL player, orthopedic surgeon, senior partner and financial analyst, among others.
Recent recipients include Brandon Fisher (2005, former Montana linebacker and current Los Angeles Rams defensive backs coach), Andrew Luck (2008, former Stanford and current Indianapolis Colts quarterback), Andrew Rodriguez (2008, Army West Point linebacker and winner of the 2011 William V. Campbell Trophy), Josh Rosen (2015, First Team Freshman All-America quarterback at UCLA) and Weston Steelhammer (2013, First Team All-Mountain West defensive back at Air Force).
Other notable past recipients include Todd Helton (1992, former Tennessee quarterback and retired Colorado Rockies first baseman), Drew Henson (1998, former Michigan quarterback and professional football and baseball player), Bobby Hoying (1991, former Ohio State quarterback and winner of the 1995 William V. Campbell Trophy) and Jon Stinchcomb (1998, former Georgia and NFL offensive lineman). Five NFF National High School Scholar-Athletes have gone on to win NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards for their accomplishments in college. They are Giovanni Carmazzi (1995, Hofstra), Hoying, Eion Hu (1993, Harvard), Rodriguez and Stinchcomb.
For tickets to the Dec. 6 luncheon in New York, please contact Ron Dilatush at rdilatush@footballfoundation.com or by calling 972-556-1000.
ANDREW GRIFFIN
Midwest Region – Central Indiana Chapter
Currently Playing at Princeton University
A three-year starter and two-year two-way player at wide receiver and defensive back, Andrew Griffin defined the scholar-athlete ideal at Avon High School in Avon, Ind. The senior team captain was named First Team All-State and Academic All-State in 2015. Griffin received the Avon football team's Mental Attitude Award and was named to four different all-state teams while leading Avon to the semifinals of the 2015 6-A State Championship. A two-time First Team all-conference selection, he owns career, single-season and single-game school records for receiving yards, receptions and touchdowns.
Holding an impressive 5.08 weighted GPA on a 4.0 scale, Griffin ranked eighth in his class of 684 students. An AP Scholar with Distinction, he was a member of both the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society. Griffin was a 2016 Continental Math League finalist and a two-time DECA International qualifier.
He extended his leadership skills from the field, serving as the senior representative to the student government and as president of the Student-Athletic Council. He was also captain of the Avon basketball and baseball teams, and he served as a youth ministry and retreat leader.
Griffin is considering studying electrical and computer engineering at Princeton University, where he appears on the Tigers' roster as a wide receiver.
SCOOTER HARRINGTON
Northeast Region – Ralph Desantis/Fairfield County (Conn.) Chapter
Currently Playing at Stanford University
A 2016 Under Armour All-American, Scooter Harrington was a three-year letterman at tight end and defensive end at Greenwich High School in Greenwich, Conn. The senior team captain was twice named all-state and all-county while also earning spots on the USA Today and Hearst Media Super 33 all-state teams. Harrington was named the 2016 Greenwich High School Athlete of the Year and was part of the Connecticut Media Male Athlete of the Year honor roll.
Graduating with a cumulative 4.4 GPA, Harrington was selected as a lacrosse Academic All-American in 2016. An AP Scholar with Honors, he is a member of the National Honor Society and has appeared on the high honor roll every semester of high school.
Active in the community, Harrington served as a peer mentor and student government representative at Greenwich High School all four years. He received the Ben Davenport Service Award for his contributions to youth sports, having served as a youth football, lacrosse and basketball coach throughout high school. Harrington also served as a tutor volunteer for students at risk through the Avid Program and was selected to the High School Athletic Captain's Resource Conference at the New York University Institute of Leadership.
Harrington received a full scholarship to Stanford University, and he appears as a tight end on the Cardinal roster.
MATTHEW MITCHELL
West Region – Valley of the Sun (Ariz.) Chapter
Currently Playing at Phoenix College (Ariz.)
A true inspiration, Matthew Mitchell excelled on the field and in the classroom at Joy Christian School in Glendale, Ariz., despite being born with cystic fibrosis. The three-year captain was a unanimous First Team All-State selection at quarterback as a senior. His numerous awards in 2015 included Arizona Republic Division-V Player of the Year, Arizona Football Coaches Association Offensive Player of the Year and ACA First Team All-American. Mitchell recorded the fourth highest quarterback rating in the country and set Arizona Division-V records for career and single-season touchdowns while leading Joy Christian to a perfect 13-0 season and the 2015 state championship.
Boasting an impressive 4.46 weighted GPA, Mitchell was named to the First Team All-Academic team for Arizona Divisions III-VI. A member of the National Honor Society, he received all A's his final three years of high school while taking all available honors courses. Mitchell served as Joy Christian's student body president as a senior and the president of his junior class.
Mitchell has served as a cystic fibrosis lifestyle spokesperson, and he took part in the cystic life community exercise research project. He has also served as a volunteer youth coach and a motivational speaker. Mitchell received the 2016 Arizona High School Sports Courage Award, the Valley of the Sun Chapter's Shaw Courage Award and the Boomer Esiason Foundation Sacks for CF Scholarship.
With countless options for continuing his education, Mitchell wanted an opportunity to play college football. Phoenix College (Ariz.) was the only program in the country that offered him an opportunity to play immediately. He has appeared in four games and recorded a receiving touchdown as a slot receiver.
JOHN ORR
South Region – Middle Tennessee Chapter
Currently Playing at Princeton University
A three-year letterman at linebacker and tight end, John Orr guided Christ Presbyterian Academy to three state finals, including a victory in the state championship his junior season. The three-time all-district selection guided the Lions, based in Nashville, Tenn., to a 42-3 record, and he led the team with 118 tackles as a senior while serving as captain.
Carrying a 4.32 GPA, Orr was an Academic All-State selection as a senior. He was a member of the National Honor Society and the Headmaster's List, and he served as a speaker at Christ Presbyterian's baccalaureate. Orr also captained the baseball team to a state championship in 2015.
Active in student government, Orr served as the president of his senior class and vice president of his junior and sophomore classes. He was the sports editor of the yearbook for two years and was a three-year member of the Student Government Association Club. An avid church volunteer, Orr assisted with special needs children and went on two mission trips to Honduras. He has also volunteered for various other community charities.
Orr is considering studying engineering at Princeton University, and he appears as a linebacker on the Tigers' roster.
STEPHEN SPANELLIS
East Region – Greater Baltimore Chapter
Currently Playing at the University of Michigan
A four-year letterman on the offensive line, Stephen Spanellis led the Gilman School to a 10-1 record and the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) A Conference championship in 2015. The senior team captain was twice named Consensus All-State, All-Metro and All-MIAA. Spanellis was voted All-Maryland by USA Today, selected to the Baltimore Touchdown Club's Super 22 and invited to numerous All-America games.
Holding a spectacular 94.57 average grade, Spanellis was a part of the Cum Laude Society and a four-year member of the honor roll. As a senior, he received Gilman's Scott B. Deutschmann Teammate Award and Peter Parrot Blanchard Award for his impact and commitment.
Spanellis served as vice president of the Gilman Athletic Association, and he was also the captain of the track and field teams. He volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, working 50 hours to help build homes for those less fortunate, and he participated in a weekly bible study throughout his high school career.
Spanellis is enrolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts at the University of Michigan, and he appears as an offensive lineman on the Wolverines' roster.
ABOUT The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. With 120 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include FootballMatters.org, the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, The William V. Campbell Trophy presented by Fidelity Investments, annual scholarships of more than $1.3 million and a series of initiatives to honor the legends of the past and inspire the leaders of the future. NFF corporate partners include Delta Air Lines, Fidelity Investments, Herff Jones, New York Athletic Club, Pasadena Tournament of Roses, PrimeSport, the Sports Business Journal, Under Armour and VICIS. Learn more at www.footballfoundation.org.
Princeton is the only school to have multiple honorees of a 2016 National High School Scholar-Athlete Award, and it is the only Ivy League school to have an honoree. Among the other schools honored are Stanford and Michigan.
"I am thrilled for both Andrew and John, and I thank the National Football Foundation for continuing to celebrate the hard work and success of our high school football players," said Princeton head coach Bob Surace, who has coached multiple honorees during his time at Princeton, including current sophomore Richard Bush. "Andrew and John represent everything that we look for in a Princeton football player. They are competitive both on the field and in the classroom, and they put in the time, energy and effort to be the best at everything they do. They are a credit to this University, and to the long tradition of Tiger Football."
"The NFF National High School Scholar-Athlete Awards showcase first-class high school football players from across the country," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "This year's honorees have set the standard for accomplishment on the field, in the classroom and in the community. We are truly proud to honor their success in December."
You can read more from the full release, including bios of both Griffin and Orr, from the National Football Foundation below.
2016 NFF National High School Scholar-Athlete Honorees
(Currently college freshmen, the award is solely based on high school accomplishments.)
- Andrew Griffin – from Avon High School in Avon, Ind., and the Central Indiana Chapter in the Midwest Region. (Currently attending Princeton University.)
- Scooter Harrington – from Greenwich High School in Greenwich, Conn., and the Ralph Desantis/Fairfield County (Conn.) Chapter in the Northeast Region. (Currently attending Stanford University.)
- Matthew Mitchell – from Joy Christian School in Glendale, Ariz., and the Valley of the Sun (Ariz.) Chapter in the West Region. (Currently attending Phoenix College [Ariz.].)
- John Orr – from Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville, Tenn., and the Middle Tennessee Chapter in the South Region. (Currently attending Princeton University.)
- Stephen Spanellis – from Gilman School in Baltimore, Md., and the Greater Baltimore Chapter in the East Region. (Currently attending the University of Michigan.)
The five scholar-athletes will travel to New York City to be honored during the NFF Chapter Awards Luncheon, presented by Under Armour, on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at the Waldorf Astoria. First bestowed in 1991, the NFF National High School Scholar-Athlete Awards have become one of the most prestigious high school honors in the country. Criteria for the award include, but are not limited to, academic achievement, athletic accolades and community involvement.
With 120 chapters and more than 12,000 members, the NFF Chapter Network impacts more than 500,000 student-athletes at 5,000 high schools in 47 states each year. The centerpiece of their efforts are the annual chapter awards banquets, which recognize more than 3,500 of the nation's top scholar-athletes and distribute more than $1 million in scholarships. From this pool of 3,500 scholar-athletes, the chapters nominated 36 individuals in 2016 as finalists for the highly coveted NFF National High School Scholar-Athlete Awards.
During the past 25 years, 110 student-athletes have been recognized as NFF National High School Scholar-Athletes, and this year will mark the 26th class of honorees. Past NFF National High School Scholar-Athletes have gone on to hold various titles, including president, CEO, vice president, lawyer, NFL player, orthopedic surgeon, senior partner and financial analyst, among others.
Recent recipients include Brandon Fisher (2005, former Montana linebacker and current Los Angeles Rams defensive backs coach), Andrew Luck (2008, former Stanford and current Indianapolis Colts quarterback), Andrew Rodriguez (2008, Army West Point linebacker and winner of the 2011 William V. Campbell Trophy), Josh Rosen (2015, First Team Freshman All-America quarterback at UCLA) and Weston Steelhammer (2013, First Team All-Mountain West defensive back at Air Force).
Other notable past recipients include Todd Helton (1992, former Tennessee quarterback and retired Colorado Rockies first baseman), Drew Henson (1998, former Michigan quarterback and professional football and baseball player), Bobby Hoying (1991, former Ohio State quarterback and winner of the 1995 William V. Campbell Trophy) and Jon Stinchcomb (1998, former Georgia and NFL offensive lineman). Five NFF National High School Scholar-Athletes have gone on to win NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards for their accomplishments in college. They are Giovanni Carmazzi (1995, Hofstra), Hoying, Eion Hu (1993, Harvard), Rodriguez and Stinchcomb.
For tickets to the Dec. 6 luncheon in New York, please contact Ron Dilatush at rdilatush@footballfoundation.com or by calling 972-556-1000.
ANDREW GRIFFIN
Midwest Region – Central Indiana Chapter
Currently Playing at Princeton University
A three-year starter and two-year two-way player at wide receiver and defensive back, Andrew Griffin defined the scholar-athlete ideal at Avon High School in Avon, Ind. The senior team captain was named First Team All-State and Academic All-State in 2015. Griffin received the Avon football team's Mental Attitude Award and was named to four different all-state teams while leading Avon to the semifinals of the 2015 6-A State Championship. A two-time First Team all-conference selection, he owns career, single-season and single-game school records for receiving yards, receptions and touchdowns.
Holding an impressive 5.08 weighted GPA on a 4.0 scale, Griffin ranked eighth in his class of 684 students. An AP Scholar with Distinction, he was a member of both the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society. Griffin was a 2016 Continental Math League finalist and a two-time DECA International qualifier.
He extended his leadership skills from the field, serving as the senior representative to the student government and as president of the Student-Athletic Council. He was also captain of the Avon basketball and baseball teams, and he served as a youth ministry and retreat leader.
Griffin is considering studying electrical and computer engineering at Princeton University, where he appears on the Tigers' roster as a wide receiver.
SCOOTER HARRINGTON
Northeast Region – Ralph Desantis/Fairfield County (Conn.) Chapter
Currently Playing at Stanford University
A 2016 Under Armour All-American, Scooter Harrington was a three-year letterman at tight end and defensive end at Greenwich High School in Greenwich, Conn. The senior team captain was twice named all-state and all-county while also earning spots on the USA Today and Hearst Media Super 33 all-state teams. Harrington was named the 2016 Greenwich High School Athlete of the Year and was part of the Connecticut Media Male Athlete of the Year honor roll.
Graduating with a cumulative 4.4 GPA, Harrington was selected as a lacrosse Academic All-American in 2016. An AP Scholar with Honors, he is a member of the National Honor Society and has appeared on the high honor roll every semester of high school.
Active in the community, Harrington served as a peer mentor and student government representative at Greenwich High School all four years. He received the Ben Davenport Service Award for his contributions to youth sports, having served as a youth football, lacrosse and basketball coach throughout high school. Harrington also served as a tutor volunteer for students at risk through the Avid Program and was selected to the High School Athletic Captain's Resource Conference at the New York University Institute of Leadership.
Harrington received a full scholarship to Stanford University, and he appears as a tight end on the Cardinal roster.
MATTHEW MITCHELL
West Region – Valley of the Sun (Ariz.) Chapter
Currently Playing at Phoenix College (Ariz.)
A true inspiration, Matthew Mitchell excelled on the field and in the classroom at Joy Christian School in Glendale, Ariz., despite being born with cystic fibrosis. The three-year captain was a unanimous First Team All-State selection at quarterback as a senior. His numerous awards in 2015 included Arizona Republic Division-V Player of the Year, Arizona Football Coaches Association Offensive Player of the Year and ACA First Team All-American. Mitchell recorded the fourth highest quarterback rating in the country and set Arizona Division-V records for career and single-season touchdowns while leading Joy Christian to a perfect 13-0 season and the 2015 state championship.
Boasting an impressive 4.46 weighted GPA, Mitchell was named to the First Team All-Academic team for Arizona Divisions III-VI. A member of the National Honor Society, he received all A's his final three years of high school while taking all available honors courses. Mitchell served as Joy Christian's student body president as a senior and the president of his junior class.
Mitchell has served as a cystic fibrosis lifestyle spokesperson, and he took part in the cystic life community exercise research project. He has also served as a volunteer youth coach and a motivational speaker. Mitchell received the 2016 Arizona High School Sports Courage Award, the Valley of the Sun Chapter's Shaw Courage Award and the Boomer Esiason Foundation Sacks for CF Scholarship.
With countless options for continuing his education, Mitchell wanted an opportunity to play college football. Phoenix College (Ariz.) was the only program in the country that offered him an opportunity to play immediately. He has appeared in four games and recorded a receiving touchdown as a slot receiver.
JOHN ORR
South Region – Middle Tennessee Chapter
Currently Playing at Princeton University
A three-year letterman at linebacker and tight end, John Orr guided Christ Presbyterian Academy to three state finals, including a victory in the state championship his junior season. The three-time all-district selection guided the Lions, based in Nashville, Tenn., to a 42-3 record, and he led the team with 118 tackles as a senior while serving as captain.
Carrying a 4.32 GPA, Orr was an Academic All-State selection as a senior. He was a member of the National Honor Society and the Headmaster's List, and he served as a speaker at Christ Presbyterian's baccalaureate. Orr also captained the baseball team to a state championship in 2015.
Active in student government, Orr served as the president of his senior class and vice president of his junior and sophomore classes. He was the sports editor of the yearbook for two years and was a three-year member of the Student Government Association Club. An avid church volunteer, Orr assisted with special needs children and went on two mission trips to Honduras. He has also volunteered for various other community charities.
Orr is considering studying engineering at Princeton University, and he appears as a linebacker on the Tigers' roster.
STEPHEN SPANELLIS
East Region – Greater Baltimore Chapter
Currently Playing at the University of Michigan
A four-year letterman on the offensive line, Stephen Spanellis led the Gilman School to a 10-1 record and the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) A Conference championship in 2015. The senior team captain was twice named Consensus All-State, All-Metro and All-MIAA. Spanellis was voted All-Maryland by USA Today, selected to the Baltimore Touchdown Club's Super 22 and invited to numerous All-America games.
Holding a spectacular 94.57 average grade, Spanellis was a part of the Cum Laude Society and a four-year member of the honor roll. As a senior, he received Gilman's Scott B. Deutschmann Teammate Award and Peter Parrot Blanchard Award for his impact and commitment.
Spanellis served as vice president of the Gilman Athletic Association, and he was also the captain of the track and field teams. He volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, working 50 hours to help build homes for those less fortunate, and he participated in a weekly bible study throughout his high school career.
Spanellis is enrolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts at the University of Michigan, and he appears as an offensive lineman on the Wolverines' roster.
ABOUT The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. With 120 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include FootballMatters.org, the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, The William V. Campbell Trophy presented by Fidelity Investments, annual scholarships of more than $1.3 million and a series of initiatives to honor the legends of the past and inspire the leaders of the future. NFF corporate partners include Delta Air Lines, Fidelity Investments, Herff Jones, New York Athletic Club, Pasadena Tournament of Roses, PrimeSport, the Sports Business Journal, Under Armour and VICIS. Learn more at www.footballfoundation.org.
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