Each NFF Scholar-Athlete of the Day is selected from the list of candidates for the 2013 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards, presented by Fidelity Investments. Nominated by their school as the absolute best all-around scholar-athlete on their team, 171 candidates met the high standards needed for consideration this year. As part of its effort to highlight the best of the gridiron, the NFF separately highlights each of these 171 candidates on its website. These outstanding individuals must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
Kurt Hess
Youngstown State
Quarterback
Dayton, Ohio
Early Childhood Education
3.43 GPA
Additional Information:
2013 FCS Academic All-Star
Three-time First Team Academic MVFC selection
2013 NFF Mike Cleary/Northeast Ohio Chapter Postgraduate Scholarship
Three-year team captain
Community Service:
Member of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, serving as chairman for outreach initiatives and recipient of the organization’s Male Leadership Award in 2011-12; 2013 Youngstown United Way Community Service Award winner; Volunteered for Special Olympics, No Stone Unturned fundraiser, FCA Summer Camp (two years), Willow Creek Learning Center Field Day, YSU Rummage Sale, and as “celebrity” judge for local cheerleading competition; Tutored for St. Nicholas Catholic School; Salvation Army bell ringer; Two-year basketball coach for Youngstown Christian School 5th-6th graders; Handed out ribbons for Project Purple and greeted fans at Youngstown Phantoms hockey game; Guest speaker for various groups; Master of ceremonies for YSU Scholar-Athlete Banquet; Prepped food for SAAC picnics.
