| AUGUSTA, Maine - Today, Jeff Kane, Frank J. Gaziano's son-in-law, announced the scholarship winners of the Frank J. Gaziano Memorial Offensive and Defensive Lineman Awards during a ceremony at the Augusta Civic Center. Zachary Klein and Arlo Pike from Bonny Eagle High School were named the top senior football offensive and defensive linemen in the state based on their hard work on the field, in the classroom, and in their communities. The two winners each received a trophy, a leather jacket and a $5,000 scholarship, the largest high school football scholarship of its kind in the country. The runners-up for the Gaziano Awards were offensive linemen Cole Hoffman from Kennebunk High School and Sean McCormack-Kuhman from Wells High School and defensive linemen Michael Lunny, of Sanford High School and Aidan Parmenter from Leavitt Area High School. Each runner-up received a $1,000 scholarship, a trophy and a leather jacket with the Gaziano Awards logo. The video re-broadcast of the event can be found at www.munzingmediasports.com/gaziano-award.
The scholarship and awards program for Maine senior high school football linemen was created in memory of Frank J. Gaziano, founder of National Distributors and a former college All American and professional football player with a lifelong passion for local sports. Annual funding for the $14,000 in scholarships is provided by National Distributors in South Portland, the company founded by the late Gaziano. During the past eight years of the Gaziano Awards, $96,000 has been awarded by National Distributors to Maine students.
Frank J. Gaziano Memorial Award and Scholarship Recipients:
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| Zachary Klein of Bonny Eagle High School accepts the $5,000 scholarship check from Peter DeSimon (left), president of the Gaziano Awards and Jeff Kane (right), Frank Gaziano's son-in-law and retired president of National Distributors. Photo courtesy: Gaziano Awards | Zachary Klein, Bonny Eagle High School
Frank J. Gaziano Offensive Lineman of the Year
Klein was a member of the SMAA All-Academic Team in 2017 and has been on the honor roll since his freshman year. On the field, this past season he was named the Gerry Raymond Award winner as the best lineman in the SMAA and named 1st Team All-SMAA Offensive Line. In addition to four years on the Scots lacrosse team, he has volunteered as a youth football coach for Bonny Eagle and served as a coach for Gorham youth lacrosse. After his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, he has dedicated time since his freshman year to create the "Fight Like a Scot" program for cancer research, which includes selling merchandise with all profits going to cancer research in Maine. "This award means a lot. It means all the hard work in the weight room, classroom and in the community, has finally paid off. As linemen we don't get a lot of what I'll call love, for lack of a better word, because when the quarterbacks are throwing touchdowns, we're the ones blocking for them. It all kind of starts with us, so it is nice to be recognized for that," said Klein. Arlo Pike, Bonny Eagle High School |
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| Arlo Pike of Bonny Eagle High School accepts the $5,000 scholarship check from Peter DeSimon (right), president of the Gaziano Awards (left) and Jeff Kane (right), Frank Gaziano's son-in-law and retired president of National Distributors. Photo courtesy: Gaziano Awards | Frank J. Gaziano Defensive Lineman of the Year
Pike has excelled in the classroom with a strong GPA, making the honor roll the past four years at Bonny Eagle. He has also earned several athletic honors as a 1st Team All-SMAA Defensive Line, and AMAA All-Academic Team. As captain of the Scots football and baseball teams in 2016 and 2017, he leads by example and contributes to the community by volunteering time at Catherine's Cupboard, a local food bank, as well as supporting the Standish Kiwanis and volunteering to coach youth football. In 2015, he received the Julia Clukey "Courage Award" that recognizes Maine students for demonstrating leadership or overcoming adversity.
"We might not get all the attention, but it is definitely cool to be recognized for all the hard work we put in. It's an honor to win the award, I know everything Frank Gaziano did and I am definitely going to try to live up to his legacy and be the best man I can be," said Pike. The finalists considered for the annual Frank J. Gaziano Memorial Offensive and Defensive Lineman Awards epitomize the character, leadership, and perseverance of Gaziano. The top recipients were selected by the awards committee based on their strong leadership on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. "Frank would be so proud to see the contributions these young men have made on the field and in their communities. When you hear the stories from previous winners about what the scholarship did for them, it is clear that this event and scholarship has become about much more than football. It's incredible to hear the stories behind the student athletes that have won the award during the past eight years. Every year, fans and families look forward to this event; the Gaziano Awards are a Maine tradition and I know that means that somewhere up there Frank is smiling," said Kane.
All eligible applicants must have been a high school senior in 2017, competed at the varsity level for a minimum of two years and have an exemplary record of positive athletic and non-athletic citizenship. As part of the selection process, the students submitted an essay and game film featuring each lineman against his toughest competition.
Applicants from all levels of Maine's high school football were eligible for the scholarship and able to be nominated by their coaches. For more information on the scholarship program application process, or to contribute to the scholarship fund, visit www.gazianolinemanawards.org.
Editor's note: Winners and runners-up for the Gaziano Awards and Peter DeSimon, president of the Gaziano Awards, are available for interviews by contacting Greg Glynn at Nancy Marshall Communications at 207-620-9076.
Click on the image above or the additional photo links below in order to access a downloadable version. All photos are courtesy of the Gaziano Awards. Offensive lineman Zachary Klein from Bonny Eagle accepts the $5,000 scholarship check from Peter DeSimon (left), president of the Gaziano Awards and Jeff Kane (right), retired president of National Distributors. Photo courtesy: Gaziano Awards
Defensive lineman Arlo Pike from Bonny Eagle accepts the $5,000 scholarship check from Peter DeSimon (left), president of the Gaziano Awards and Jeff Kane (right), retired president of National Distributors. Photo courtesy: Gaziano Awards
Offensive lineman Cole Hoffman from Kennebunk High School accepts $1,000 scholarship check from Peter DeSimon (left), president of the Gaziano Awards and Jeff Kane (right), retired president of National Distributors. Photo courtesy: Gaziano Awards Offensive lineman Sean McCormack-Kuhman from Wells High School accepts the $1,000 scholarship check from Peter DeSimon (left), president of the Gaziano Awards and Jeff Kane (right), retired president of National Distributors. Photo courtesy: Gaziano Awards Defensive lineman Michael Lunny from Sanford High School accepts $1,000 scholarship check from Peter DeSimon (left), president of the Gaziano Awards and Jeff Kane (right), retired president of National Distributors. Photo courtesy: Gaziano Awards Defensive lineman Aidan Parmenter from Leavitt Area High School accepts $1,000 scholarship check from Peter DeSimon (left), president of the Gaziano Awards and Jeff Kane (right), retired president of National Distributors. Photo courtesy: Gaziano Awards Photo of the Gaziano Trophy |
