U.S. Army and Pro Football Hall of Fame Announce 2016 Award for Excellence

CANTON, Ohio, Nov. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Army and the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced today the fourth year of their partnership for the national U.S. Army – Pro Football Hall of Fame Award for Excellence.

The Award for Excellence program recognizes 20 outstanding high school student-athletes who will be chosen as finalists based on their excellence in academics, athletics and community service.

"Athletes and Army Soldiers have a common mission: Win. Both Soldiers and student-athletes have the training and agility to tackle some of the toughest challenges," said Mark Davis, deputy assistant secretary of the Army for marketing. "This program recognizes student-athletes who not only excel athletically and academically, but they are leaders in their communities, strive to be the best and adhere to a core set of values that sets them up for life-long success."

The program is currently accepting nominations. Information on the Award for Excellence program, including an application for interested student-athletes, can be found at ProFootballHOF.com/award-for-excellence. The Award for Excellence program is open to all sophomore, junior and senior high school student-athletes in the United States. The deadline to submit nominations is Jan. 15, 2016. 

"The Pro Football Hall of Fame and U.S. Army share similar values," said George Veras, executive vice president, chief revenue officer and executive producer for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "We look forward to further expanding our relationship to continue to offer such meaningful programs like the Award for Excellence."

Each of the finalists will be honored during an event at their high school, highlighted by a "Gold Jacket" (living Hall of Famer) presenting an Award for Excellence finalist plaque and discussing the importance of excellence and what it has meant during their illustrious careers.

The following Gold Jackets have participated in Award for Excellence ceremonies in past years: Jerome Bettis, Joe DeLamielleure, Chris Doleman, Marshall Faulk, Bob Griese, Darrell Green, Mike Haynes, Michael Irvin, Floyd Little, James Lofton, Bruce Matthews, Anthony Muñoz, Andre Reed, Barry Sanders, Art Shell, Dwight Stephenson, Lynn Swann, Aeneas Williams and Rod Woodson.

All 20 finalists will convene in Canton, Ohio, for the 2016 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement weekend. The finalists will be honored throughout the weekend and the winner will be selected during a luncheon with Gold Jackets on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. The 2016 Award for Excellence winner will also be honored the following night at the NFL/Hall of Fame Game, the annual NFL preseason opener at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

"This program celebrates excellence everywhere," said David Baker, the Pro Football Hall of Fame's president and executive director. "The Pro Football Hall of Fame is privileged to join the U.S. Army in recognizing these great students who exemplify the values that make the future of our country so great."

Also, as part of the U.S. Army and Pro Football Hall Fame partnership, Gold Jackets Tim Brown and Shannon Sharpe will serve as honorary coaches on the sidelines of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl played at the San Antonio Alamodome on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016.

About Pro Football Hall of Fame
Located in Canton, Ohio, the birthplace of the National Football League, the Pro Football Hall of Fame's mission is to Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values and Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE. For more information about the Pro Football Hall of Fame, please visit ProFootballHOF.com; @ProFootballHOF on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Army Marketing and Research Group
The Army Marketing and Research Group (AMRG) is the U.S. Army's national marketing, marketing research and analysis and accessions analysis organization. The AMRG develops innovative and effective ways to: connect with the American public and make the Army more accessible and understood; increase awareness of both the benefits and value of Army service; and motivate the most qualified candidates to choose the Army as their service of first choice.

CONTACTS:

Pete Fierle
Vice President of Communications, Pro Football Hall of Fame
[email protected]; 330-588-3622

Jane Scrivner
Account Supervisor, McCann Worldgroup
[email protected]; 952-346-6336

SOURCE Pro Football Hall of Fame

Related Links

http://www.profootballhof.com