Scholar-Athlete Awards
Local
Scholar-Athletes
(High School Level)
Educators, coaches and community leaders agree that education and development values must be taught at this level. The Foundation's Chapters provide the local community with positive role models by recognizing those individuals in their community who best exemplify all three qualifications:
Outstanding academic application and performance
Exemplary school leadership and citizenship
Superior football performance
The Northern California Chapter awards 24 scholarships each year of $1,000 each to the recipient's college of choice. Including our 2024 class, the Northern California Chapter has awarded $1,007,000 in scholarships to Northern California scholar-athletes since 1960. Our graduate rate in higher education is 99%.
National
Scholar-Athletes
(Collegiate Level)
Although the basic requirements remain the same - scholarship, citizenship, and outstanding football performance - the competition is clearly more intense on the national level. The National Football Foundation's National Scholar-Athletes are truly representative of our nation's best and brightest.
To date, The Foundation has awarded Scholar-Athlete scholarships totaling nearly seven million dollars.
Northern California scholarships
The Gib Kirwin Endowed Scholarship
2012 marked the first year we endowed our first annually awarded scholarship. This endowment was created in the memory of Gib Kirwin, who served on our chapter's board for over 25 years. In addition to members of our board who had the chance to work with Gib over many years, we thank Gib's wife, Joanne, his daughter, Rachel, and the rest of the Kirwin family for their contributions to this endowment.
Gilbert "Gib" Kirwin was born in 1937, raised in Bel Harbor, New York. Attended Far Rockaway High School and graduated Princeton in 1958. After college, Gib enlisted in the US Marine Corp and later attended Hastings Law and began his practice in San Francisco. Gib was the former President of the 49er Club and Board Member of the National Football Foundation and of the Marin AIDS Interfaith Network. He enjoyed sailing, riding his bike, living in Belvedere and spending his weekends in La Jolla.
The Mark W. Bailey Endowed Scholarship
2016 marked the first year we endowed an annually awarded scholarship in honor of our longtime board member, current President and chair of the finance committee, Mark Bailey. Mark grew up playing football in Sparta, NJ, played at Princeton University where he earned his BSE cum laude in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. At Princeton, Mark served as co-captain his senior year, was named All-Ivy and Honorable Mention All-American and was also an NFF Chapter collegiate scholar-athlete. He was awarded an NCAA postgraduate scholarship and earned his MBA at Harvard Business School. Mark is also a member of the Sussex County Sports Hall of Fame. He is CEO and Founder of B5 Capital and Founder and Partner Emeritus of DFJ Growth.
The Bob Lee Endowed Scholarship
2017 marked the first year we endowed an annually awarded scholarship in honor of our longtime boardmember, Bob Lee. Bob earned his MA at the University of Pacific. He is a former NFL Player, playing for 13 years with the Vikings, Falcons and Rams. Bob was a member of the Inaugural Class of the UOP Hall of Fame, as well as a member of the San Francisco Prep Hall of Fame, U.O.P. Hall of Fame and Stockton Hall of Fame. Bob retired as the U.O.P. Athletic Director. He has also had a career as a radio/T.V. announcer. In 2007, our chapter recognized Bob with a Distinguished American Award. Bob is currently Broker/Owner of Legion Properties Brokerage Co.
Barbara Corrigan Endowed Scholarship
2019 marked the first year the Northern California Chapter awarded an annually endowed scholarship in honor of longtime board member and treasurer Barbara Corrigan. Barbara played a key role in the success and growth of our chapter for many years, contributing her leadership, organizational expertise, and steady guidance to the chapter’s mission of recognizing outstanding scholar-athletes.
A longtime employee of the South San Francisco Unified School District, Barbara dedicated her career to public education and served for many years in school administration and purchasing leadership. Through both her professional work and her service to the Northern California Chapter, she demonstrated a deep commitment to supporting students, educators, and the values of scholarship, leadership, and athletics.
The Bob Keropian Endowed Scholarship
2016 marked the first year we endowed an annually awarded scholarship in honor of our longtime former President and leader, Bob Keropian. We thank the members of our board who established this endowment in Bob's honor.
In 2016, Bob was also inducted into the Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame. An outstanding high school and college athlete and four-sport letterman at San Francisco State, Bob Keropian was President of the Northern California Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame for over 40 years. During his tenure, the foundation distributed over $1 million in scholarship funds to Bay Area football players and donations to the athletic programs of North County high schools. The founding principal of El Camino High in South San Francisco, Bob served as the school's chief executive for 29 years. He received the NFF's National Leadership Award in 2004 and 2008. He was also a former South San Francisco Citizen of the Year.
The Timothy Harden Endowed Scholarship
2016 marked the first year we endowed an annually awarded scholarship in honor of our longtime board member, Tim Harden. Tim attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD and was recognized by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame as a National Scholar Athlete. Tim retired as President of ATT Supply Chain and Fleet Operation. He is President and CEO of T6 Enterprises. In 2004, our chapter recognized Tim with the Distinguished American Award.
The Al Cinelli Endowed Scholarship
2017 marked the first year we endowed an annually awarded scholarship in memory of our longtime boardmember, Al Cinelli. Beginning in 1970, Al served on our board for many years serving as President and then as Treasurer. Al made his career in banking and banked the early years of the San Francisco Forty-Niners, San Francisco Giants and the San Francisco Warriors. He retired from Security Pacific National Bank in 1982 and also served on the boards of the SF Civic Center, the Salvation Army, Hanna Boys Center, Little Sisters of the Poor, Saints and Sinners Foundation, St. Francis Yacht Club, Presidio Golf Club, Presidio Society and was also a lifetime trustee of St. Mary's College. Al held a BS from St. Mary's College, an MFS from Georgetown University, an LLB from the University of Chicago, as well as an honorary Doctorate Degree for Philanthropic Achievement from St. Mary's College. During WWII, Al served as a Lieutenant in the US Navy as a communication officer in the South Pacific Theater.
Joan Keropian Endowed Scholarship
2019 marked the first year the Northern California Chapter awarded an annually endowed scholarship in honor of Joan Keropian, whose dedication and generosity of time played an important role in the success of the chapter for many years. Joan worked tirelessly alongside her husband, longtime chapter president Bob Keropian, helping organize and prepare for the chapter’s annual scholar-athlete banquet and many of its activities.
Although she served quietly behind the scenes, Joan’s contributions were invaluable. Her commitment to supporting the chapter’s mission helped create the welcoming and community-focused environment that has defined the Northern California Chapter for generations. This scholarship honors her lasting impact and her dedication to the student-athletes we celebrate each year.
The Dick Cassels Endowed Scholarship
Coach Richard E. "Dick" Cassels, Sparta High School, Sparta, NJ, 1959-1977, 125-33-7
Dick was an amazing coach, educator and friend. When his players gather, they still talk about the incredible program and winning tradition that Dick built, and the important values and life lessons he taught his players. In 1976, Dick won his very much deserved first NJ sectional state championship.
Dick emphasized the importance of strong execution of the fundamentals of the game. He inspired in his players a commitment to excellence and teamwork. He and his staff understood the importance of team leadership and cohesion. His captains gathered the team in the late summer to build a team identity prior to any coaching involvement. Dick and his staff were also visionaries, and decades ahead of their time, with respect to concussion safety. While his teams hit hard in preseason camp and scrimmages, once the season began, there was very little hitting during practice. Each Saturday, his teams were fresh, and ready to hit their opponents with intensity. Moreover, his players avoided those cumulative collisions that are believed to elevate the risk of concussion trauma. Dick's pregame prayer with his teams would not ask for victories. Instead, he would pray for no injuries on either side, as well as the strength for each of his players to give 100% during 100% of the game with the knowledge that if each member of the team did that, then win, lose or draw, the team could walk off the field with their heads held high knowing they had given their best.