National Football Foundation

A born leader, athletically, academically and in his local community, Mike Klinkenborg serves as the ideal role model on University of Iowa campus. 

A regular on the Iowa Dean's and President's Lists, Klinkenborg has maintained a near-perfect grade point average en route to being named a First Team Academic All-America selection in 2006. The two-time ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA District VII Academic All-America pick is an Elementary Education major with a minor in Math Specialization. 

Hailing from Rock Rapids, Iowa, the permanent team captain earned All-Big Ten honors in 2006 and has tallied 39 tackles, including one sack and one tackle for a loss, this season. Critical to the Hawkeyes' red zone defense, ranked second in the Big Ten, he has been named to the Bednarik Award and Lott Trophy watch lists. 

Klinkenborg serves as a youth counselor for the university's sports camps and volunteers for the Iowa City Shelter House, the Ronald McDonald House and Camp Courageous. A participant in the Hawkeye Day of Caring, he is also a member of the football leadership group. 

Derek Rose (1998) was the last Hawkeye named an NFF National Scholar-Athlete. Klinkenborg is the fifth honoree in Iowa history. He received his MBA from Iowa in 2014 and is currently the national accounts/inbound logistics manager for the Pella Corporation, a leader in designing, testing, manufacturing and installing quality windows and doors for new construction, remodeling and replacement projects for residential and commercial applications.