IRVING, Texas (Nov. 14, 2013) – The National Football Foundation (NFF) announced today that it will present an NFF Inspiration Award to Zack Golditch for his courage and resiliency in returning to the football field after being among those wounded during the July 20, 2012 Aurora theater shooting outside Denver, Colo. Golditch will be honored during the NFF Chapter Awards Luncheon, presented by Under Armour, on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City.

“Zack Golditch’s experiences provide great insights into the meaning of being part of a football team and the tenacity learned on the gridiron,” said NFF President and CEO Steve Hatchell. “His determination to return to the field and be with his teammates sends a powerful message about the sense of community created by the sport. His attitude in response to this terrible tragedy serves as an inspiration to us all, and we applaud his fortitude to get back up and continue to play the game.”

Golditch, a senior at Gateway High School at the time, received an injury to the neck with the bullet coming less than an inch from paralyzing or possibly killing him. Released from the hospital the next day, Golditch went straight to practice. Despite his inability to participate, he wanted to show solidarity with his teammates.

Following a full recovery, Golditch returned to the field, producing an award-winning senior year. A three-year starter on both the offensive and defensive lines, Golditch helped Gateway advance to the state playoffs each season. As a senior, he blocked for an offense that rushed for 43 touchdowns while recording 62 tackles on defense. He also had 11 sacks for a defense that allowed only eight points per game. He earned All-League honors on both sides of the ball in 2012 and made the All-State team. Named to the All-Colorado Defensive Line, he also earned 2012 East Metro Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Graduating with a 3.64 weighted GPA, Golditch made the Gateway honor roll for five semesters, and he participated as a member of the Student Council. He earned the 2012 Touching Hearts Through Athletics Award, which is given to a student-athlete who demonstrates being a team player, accepting academic responsibility and sportsmanship on and off the field. In the community, he has volunteered at youth camps and as a mentor at Causins Elementary School. This past spring the NFF Colorado Chapter honored Zach among its 2013 class of scholar-athletes.

Golditch currently attends Colorado State University, appearing on the Rams roster as a freshman offensive lineman at 6-6 and 260 pounds.

ABOUT The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. With 120 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include the College Football Hall of Fame, the NFF Scholar-Athlete Award presented by Fidelity Investments, Play It Smart, the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Alumni Association, and scholarships of more than $1.3 million for college and high school scholar-athletes. The NFF presents the MacArthur Bowl, the William V. Campbell Trophy endowed by HealthSouth, and releases the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Standings. NFF corporate partners include the Allstate Sugar Bowl, the BCS, Fidelity Investments, Herff Jones, Liberty Mutual Insurance, NCAA Football, and Under Armour. For more information, please visit www.footballfoundation.org.