The best way to describe the first few days of 2020 is to use a football term – the new year began with a fantastic “super bowl” event.

I was invited to become involved with the Suffolk County Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame. The chapter has been celebrating local high school and college players for many years. Now named in my honor, the chapter invited me to speak with the students, their families and their coaches, and to present its prestigious Top Scholar Athlete Award for 2019.

Though I am more known for my career as a lacrosse player and as a supporter of Long Island youth and college lacrosse programs, I did play football and set a few records at Half Hollow Hills High School East in Dix Hills during the 1970s. For the last several years for the National Football Foundation, I have sponsored the Mr. Football New York City Player of the Year Award presented by the New York City Chapter.

At the Suffolk chapter awards program on January 5, more than 50 high school and several college scholar athletes were celebrated for their outstanding achievements in the classroom, on the gridiron and in their communities. The Top Scholar Athlete Award, which also has been named in my honor, was presented to Christopher Daleo of Westhampton Beach High School. Here is a summary of Christopher’s incredible high school achievements.

Academics:

• Carries a 96 unweighted average and scored 1360 on the SAT and 34 on the ACT.
• Enrolled in 10 Advanced Placement courses during high school. Recipient of the AP Capstone Diploma. Received designation of AP Scholar with Distinction.
• Member of the National Honor Society, Science Honor Society, World Language Honor Society and Math Honor Society.
• Recipient of the Journalism Award presented to the top journalism student in the school district.
• Elected senior class president.

Football:

• First Team All-Division, First Team All-County.
• Team captain.
• Two-way starter. Two-year varsity record, including playoffs, was 18-3.

Community:

• Founder, Church Youth Leadership Ministry, expanding the group to more than 30 students.
• Volunteer for the “Adopt-A-Family” program that provides local families with a helping hand.
• Contributes his time to the Westhampton Beach Oyster Festival and the Westhampton Beach Talent Show.
• A peer tutor for younger students.

Wow!

Christopher is going places in school, in sports and in life. I am glad that we met, and I wish him all the best!

No Comments

No comments yet.

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI

Leave a comment