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University of Minnesota Athletics
Kill, Christensen Take Part in NFFMN Awards Event
4/26/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
On April 17, the National Football Foundation Minnesota Chapter (NFFMN) held its 4th annual "Honoring Legends-Inspiring Leaders" awards event at the University of St.Thomas. The sold-out crowd included College Hall of Famers Paul Wiggin, JimChristopherson, Jeff Siemon and Leo Lewis, who represented his late father, Hall of Famer Leo "Lincoln Locomotive" Lewis.
For the fourth year in a row, WCCO television's Frank Vascellaro served as emcee of the event. New University of Minnesota head football coach Jerry Kill delivered an inspiring keynote address in which he explained his 10 principles to live by and reflected on his gratitude and excitement for the opportunity to coach the Golden Gophers. He was accompanied by his wife, Rebecca Kill.
Fourteen individuals accepted awards at the event, including retired WCCO radio personality, Ray Christensen (Distinguished Minnesotan Award), long-time athletic trainer at Minnesota State Mankato Gordy Graham (Fred Zamberletti Award) and Super Bowl official Jerry Seeman (Outstanding Officiating Award). Todd Fultz, a former standout receiver at St. John's University, accepted the Courage Award for his remarkable recovery from a devastating auto accident in June of 2008.
Ten scholar-athletes were honored during the course of the evening. The first annual Bob Stein College Scholar-Athlete Award was presented to Isaac Odim, a football and academic stand-out from the Division II National Champion University of Minnesota Duluth. Nine high school scholar-athletes, each of whom demonstrated impressive achievements on the field, in the classroom, and in their communities, received awards.
The 5th Annual Honoring Legends, Inspiring Leaders awards event has been tentatively set for April 22, 2012, at the new Woulfe Center on the campus of the University of St.Thomas.
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