Nov. 11, 2013
The All Sports Association, Inc. announced today that Minnesota senior kicker Chris Hawthorne is one of 12 finalists for the 2013 Wuerffel Trophy, which is a national award that honors the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with outstanding academic and athletic achievement.
Hawthorne, who is an Academic All-Big Ten honoree, has completed nearly 200 documented hours of community service since Sept. 2009 and has volunteered countless more as he continues to give back to those around him. In addition, Hawthorne has been a driving force behind Minnesota’s upcoming Unlimited Dance Marathon, which will benefit Amplatz Children's Hospital. Hawthorne is also the Big Ten Conference representative for the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, becoming the first Gopher to hold this position.
This year, Hawthorne leads Minnesota in scoring with 71 points, as he has connected on 12 field goals and 35 point-after attempts. He has made his last five field goals and two of the three he has missed this year were of 50 and 51 yards.
The Wuerffel Trophy is named after former Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel, who led the Florida Gators to the 1996 national championship, played six years in the National Football League and has received national recognition for his humanitarian and community service efforts with Desire Street Ministries in New Orleans and around the country.
A committee that includes the Wuerffel Trophy national directors, selection committee members and past winners, will vote on the finalists later this month, and the winner will be announced on December 10.
The 2013 Wuerffel Trophy will be presented to the winner at the All Sports Association’s 45th Annual Awards Banquet on Friday, February 7, 2014.
The finalists, who were nominated by their schools’ sports information directors or football liaisons, are (listed alphabetically by university):
Hayden Tippett, Senior – Army - Fullback
Dave Harding, Senior – Duke – Offensive Line
Aaron Murray, Senior – Georgia - Quarterback
Will Jackson, Senior – Georgia Tech – Offensive Line
Nathan Scheelhaase, Senior – Illinois - Quarterback
James Morris, Senior – Iowa – Linebacker
Jacob Karam, Senior – Memphis – Quarterback
Chris Hawthorne, Senior – Minnesota – Placekicker
Gabe Ikard, Senior – Oklahoma – Offensive Line
Ryan Alderman, Senior – Temple – Wide Receiver
Eric Soza, Senior – Texas-San Antonio - Quarterback
Carey Spear, Senior – Vanderbilt - Placekicker
