Since 2006, college tuition scholarships totaling more than $300,000 have been provided to Chicago area high school seniors that flourished on the football field, in the classroom and in the community. Scholarship recipients are nominated by their high school football coach. The Chicago Bears Community Champion Awards are presented annually to high school senior football players that have demonstrated excellence in their community and volunteer endeavors.
Chicago Metro Chapter Board Members:
Brian Baschnagel -- Wide Receiver from Ohio State and Chicago Bears, 1976 Brian Piccolo Award winner
Tom Beck -- former Head Coach at Elmhurst College, Illinois Benedictine and Grand Valley State, inducted into College Football Hall of Fame in 2004
Chris Bisaillon -- All-American wide receiver from Illinois Wesleyan University, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012, Bottleneck Management
Pat Fitzgerald -- Former Northwestern University Head Football Coach, All-American linebacker in 1995 and 1996, two-time recipient of both the Bednarik and Nagurski Defensive Player of the Year Awards, 2008 College Football Hall of Fame inductee
Dan Jiggetts -- Harvard All-American and Offensive Tackle from Chicago Bears, Ivy League Hall of Famer
Jeff Joniak -- ESPN Radio, radio play-by-play Voice of the Chicago Bears
Christopher Kearney -- Citrus Bowl Team Selection Committee, Central Region Managing Partner at professional services firm Tatum
Ed Keating -- 2010 NFF Chicago Metro Scholar-Athlete Award recipient, Duane Morris law firm
Brendan Mulheran - 2007 NFF Chicago Metro Scholar-Athlete Award recipient, CIBC
Ryan O'Desky -- Milwaukee Public Museum SVP Operations & Finance
Ross Sauer -- 2010 NFF Chicago Metro Scholar-Athlete Award recipient, S.C. Johnson & Son
Caroline Schrenker -- Valparaiso University Director of Donor Relations, Bears Care Board Member
Tim Stratton -- Tight End from Purdue University, first-ever recipient of the John Mackey Award in 2000 for the best Tight End in college football
Wolfe Tone -- Vice Chair – U.S. Deloitte Private Leader, Chapter Treasurer
Keith Van Horne -- USC All-American and Academic All-American, Chicago Bears Offensive Tackle for 13 years including blocking for Walter Payton on the 1985 Super Bowl Championship team
Bryan Whitson -- 2009 NFF Chicago Metro Scholar-Athlete Award recipient, Kimley-Horn
