Six TN area athletes are recognized

The Lehigh Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation will hold its annual scholar athlete banquet Sunday, March 6 at the Northampton Community Center.

The banquet has been held since 1961 and the foundation has recognized 745 high school athletes and 226 collegiate scholar athletes.

One high school player from each of 34 Lehigh Valley area high school teams are nominated with one of them being selected as that year's scholar athlete scholarship winner.

One local college football player from each of six area schools is also recognized at the banquet.

From the TIMES NEWS area, a total of six players have been invited to attend. They include Jim Thorpe's Cody Mann, Lehighton's Noah Tkach, Northern Lehigh's Mike Buresh, Northwestern's Thomas Hudak, Palmerton's Jarrett Kleintop and Pleasant Valley's Albert Linares.

Below are bios on all of this year's selections:

William Allen

Ackeem Cashawn Bell

A 5-10, 234-pound defensive tackle, he ranks 190th out of 710 students. He is an honor roll student, and participates in wrestling and track, and is involved in several community service activities.

Allentown Central Catholic

Shane Michael McNeely

A 6-3, 235-pound tight end and linebacker, he ranks 75th out of 233 students. McNeely earned all-conference honors, is an honor roll student, and participates in basketball and class plays. He is active with the Best Buddy Mercy Learning Center.

Bangor

Scott LaValva

A 5-9, 195-pound running back and defensive back, he ranks 25th out of 278 students. LaValva earned all-conference and all-state honors while serving as a two-year team captain. He is a member of the National Honor Society, editor of the school newspaper and participates in basketball and track. He is active in a school leadership group and his church youth group.

Bethlehem Catholic

Michael Yildiran

A 5-9, 170-pound defensive back, he ranks 33rd out of 180 students. Yildiran is an honor roll student and participates in track and the school Key Club. He is active in Special Olympics, Dream Come True, the Miracle League and Camelot for Children.

Catasauqua

Jeffrey Patrick Gallagher

A 6-1, 230-pound tackle and nose guard, he ranks seventh out of 121 students. Gallagher earned all-conference honors and is a member of the National Honor Society. He participates in basketball, track, the Varsity "C" Club, student council and student forum.

Louis E. Dieruff

Geza Paul Frey Jr.

A 5-3, 135-pound tailback and defensive back, he ranks 181st out of 441 students. Frey is an honor roll student, participates in track, the yearbook staff, class plays, is a member of student government and was a two-year football captain. He is active in Lehigh Valley Leadership, a vacation Bible School volunteer and serves as a mentor to incoming students.

East Stroudsburg North

Cody A. Johnson

A 5-10, 200-pound guard and defensive tackle, he ranks first out of 266 students. Johnson earned all-conference honors, is a member of the National Honor Society, participates in wrestling, track, class plays, is a member of student government and is involved in several other student organizations. His activity in the community includes Special Olympics, Angel 34, Toys for Tots, an elementary tutor and youth sports.

East Stroudsburg South

James Anthony Coscia

A 6-3, 220-pound tight end and defensive end, he ranks 75th out of 331 students. Coscia earned all-conference and all-state honors, is an honor roll student and participates in basketball. He is a member of the Future Business Leaders of America.

Easton

Benjamin Michael Lorigan

A 6-1, 210-pound offensive guard, he ranks first out of 690 students. Lorigan is a member of the National Honor Society, editor of both the school newspaper and yearbook and is student government treasurer. He participates in lacrosse, DECA, PIE Club, PA Junior Academy of Science, the Spanish Honor Society and is a Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Ambassador. His community activities include Special Olympics.

Emmaus

Brian Timothy Velasco

A 5-10, 173-pound wide receiver and safety, he ranks 42nd out of 689 students. Velasco is an honor roll student, earned the Student Honor Achievement Award in Spanish and participates in baseball. His community activities include serving as both a youth football and baseball coach.

Freedom

Zachary James Mazur

A 6-4, 280-pound two way tackle, he ranks 89th out of 442 students. Mazur is a member of the National Honor Society and participates in basketball. He is a youth football and basketball coach, participated in the 2010 VIA Walk, volunteered at Musikfest, Philadelphia Eagles training camp and is active in his church.

Jim Thorpe

Cody Lynn Mann

A 6-2, 235-pound offensive tackle, he ranks in the top-five-percent of his class. Mann is an honor roll student and participates in powerlifting, RAKC and serves as a Peer Tutor. He is active in the Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network, which is a local food pantry.

Lehighton

Noah Luke Tkach

A 5-11, 220-pound center, he ranks eighth out of 152 students. Tkach earned all-conference honors, is a member of the National Honor Society, class president, participates in FBLA, Weightlifting Club treasurer and is a Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Ambassador. He volunteers at the senior games and the Red Cross, is active in his church and is a Junior Borough Council Representative in Lehighton.

Liberty

Drew W. Persa

A 6-2, 225-pound tight end and linebacker, he ranks 86th out of 649 students. Persa is an honor roll student, was a team captain, participates in track and is a member of both Student Government and SADD. He is active in Special Olympics, Cops for Kids, visits the elderly and volunteers for local youth activities.

Nazareth

Chuck C. Dibilio

A 6-0, 190-pound tailback, he ranks 29th out of 386 students. Dibilio earned all-conference and all-state honors, was named LVC Offensive MVP and is a member of the National Honor Society. He participates in varsity and AAU basketball and is active in several other school organizations. His community activities include volunteering for youth football and basketball camps.

Northampton

Chad Joseph Fenon

A 5-10, 175-pound tailback and linebacker, he ranks 62nd out of 451 students. Fenon is an honor roll student, and participates in both varsity and Legion baseball. He is a youth sports volunteer coach.

Northern Lehigh

Michael Irvin Buresh

A 6-3, 235-pound tight end and defensive end, he ranks 13th out of 170 students. Buresh earned all-conference honors, was a team captain, an honor roll student, a student government member, participates in track, FBLA, ambassadorial studies, the Interact Club and served as a peer helper. He volunteers for Canalside Manor, Sacred Heart Hospital, Angel Food Distribution, and is involved with various church activities.

Northwestern Lehigh

Thomas Louis Hudak

A 5-11, 190-pound fullback and linebacker, he ranks 7th out of 187 students. Hudak is a member of the National Honor Society and participates in baseball. He is a volunteer for the Krysta Hankee Memorial Golf Tournament and the PA Fish Commission, as well as a Mr. Jr. Lehigh Valley Youth Hunting and Fishing Competition two-time winner.

Notre Dame

Robert Snyder Jr.

A 5-10, 152-pound receiver and free safety, he ranks 59th out of 119 students. Snyder is an honor roll student and participates in baseball. His community activities include volunteering at the Big Blue Football Camp, City Line Baseball Field cleanups, the Run for Rich 5K charity run, and vacation Bible school.

Palisades

Josh Linley Donald Parris

A 6-1, 178-pound defensive back and quarterback, he ranks 17th out of 169 students. Parris earned all-conference honors, is an honor roll student, and participates in basketball. His community activities include volunteering as a youth basketball coach, a Pop Warner volunteer worker, and Partners in Action for Community Togetherness (PACT).

Palmerton

Jarrett A. Kleintop

A 5-7, 195-pound two way lineman, he ranks 14th out of 118 students. Kleintop is an honor roll student, class officer, member of the student government, and participates in wrestling and track. He is an Eagle Scout and a Special Olympics volunteer.

Parkland

Kurtis Anthony Kaunas

A 5-5, 160-pound running back, he ranks 117th out of 764 students. Kaunas a member of the National Honor Society and participates in varsity lacrosse. He is a member of the Key Club among his community activities.

Pen Argyl

Nathan John Hood

A 6-1, 195-pound quarterback, he ranks 50th out of 134 students. Hood earned all-conference honors, is a yearbook staff member and participates in varsity baseball. His community activities include participating in Life Skills Aid.

Phillipsburg

Nicholas James Porcelli

A 6-1, 180-pound tight end and defensive end, he ranks 15th out of 389 students. Porcelli earned all-conference honors, is a member of the National Honor Society, is president of student council and participates in baseball. He is a quoit club member, a Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership delegate, a junior board member for Lauren's First and Goal Camp and has been a Leadership Training Conference delegate and counselor.

Pius X

George N. Dalessandro

A 5-10, 155-pound wide receiver, free safety and kick returner, he ranks seventh out of 27 students. Dalessandro earned all-conference honors, is a member of the National Honor Society, president of student government, participates in baseball and wrestling and is a member of the Pro Life Club and SADD. He is active in his church as an altar server.

Pleasant Valley

Albert Louis Linares

A 5-7, 156-pound wide receiver, he ranks 69th out of 514 students. Linares is a member of the National Honor Society, served as a football team captain, participates in wrestling and is a member of the School Spirit Committee. He is a five-year Special Olympic volunteer, Exchange Club Student of the Month and a youth football coach volunteer.

Pocono Mountain East

Matthew M. Murphy

A 5-9, 165-pound strong safety and wide receiver, he ranks 78th out of 429 students. Murphy is an honor roll student and participates in wrestling. He is active in his church, the youth wrestling program, and has had perfect school attendance since the fourth grade.

Pocono Mountain West

Joshua Gonzalez

A 6-0, 245-pound offensive guard and defensive tackle, he ranks 45th out of 495 students. Gonzalez earned all-conference honors, is an honor roll student, editor of the school newspaper and participates in wrestling and class plays. He is a volunteer camp counselor, member of the Weightlifting Club and is active in his church.

Salisbury

Dan David Allen

A 6-1, 180-pound linebacker, offensive guard and tight end, he ranks 60th out of 153 students. Allen is an honor roll student and involved in the Student Advisory Club. He is a youth football camp volunteer among his community activities.

Saucon Valley

Ian Russell Gimbar

A 5-10, 205-pound fullback and linebacker, he ranks 32nd out of 207 students. Gimbar earned all-conference honors, is a member of the National Honor Society and participates in varsity wrestling and lacrosse. He is active in his church and the Football Club among his community activities.

Southern Lehigh

David George Givler

A 6-0, 220-pound offensive guard and defensive tackle, he ranks 51st out of 253 students. Givler earned all-conference honors and is a member of the National Honor Society. He is a member of the Key Club and serves as a youth football camp volunteer.

Stroudsburg

Evan Charles Wilson

A 5-11, 210-pound offensive guard, he ranks 102nd out of 493 students. Wilson earned all-conference honors, is an honor roll student and participates in FBLA and the school orchestra. He is active in his church and volunteers at a local soup kitchen.

Whitehall

Chris E. Polony

A 6-3, 200-pound quarterback, he ranks 38th out of 371 students. Polony earned all-conference honors, is a member of the National Honor Society, participates in basketball, the Key Club and is a Mu Alpha Theta member. He is a Toys for Tots volunteer among his community activities.

Wilson

Nils Eric Larson

A 5-11, 215-pound guard and linebacker, he ranks 15th out of 180 students. Larson earned all-conference honors, is an honor roll student and participates in basketball and baseball. He is a vice president of the Baseball Club and is a member of FEA.

COLLEGE SCHOLAR-ATHLETES OF LEHIGH VALLEY

East Stroudsburg University: Matt Freed

Kutztown University: Jared Haas

Lafayette College: Marc Quilling

Lehigh University: Thomas Randazza

Moravian College: Alex Hersch

Muhlenberg College: Michael Katz