LaFache nominated for Frank Gaziano Award
DOVER-FOXCROFT — Foxcroft Academy senior Louis LaFache, who in the fall was a captain and two-way tackle for the Class C state champion Pony football team, is one of 31 nominees for the Frank Gaziano High School Scholarship and Awards. LaFache is one of 13 defensive linemen nominated for the honor, which on both sides of the ball is comprised of players in Classes A, B, and C from 26 communities.
RECOGNIZING THE PLAYERS UP FRONT — Foxcroft Academy senior Louis LaFache, pictured with the Gold Ball after the Ponies’ victory in the 2012 Class C state championship, is one of 31 nominees for the Frank Gaziano High School Scholarship and Awards, which recognizes the top high school linemen in the state. LaFache is one of 13 players nominated on the defensive side of the ball, and the winners will be announced during a Jan. 27 ceremony at the Augusta Civic Center.
The scholarship and awards program for Maine high school football linemen was created in 2010 in memory of Frank J. Gaziano, founder of National Distributors and a former college All-American and professional football player with a lifelong passion for local sports. The Frank J. Gaziano Memorial Offensive and Defensive Lineman Awards are presented to players who epitomize the character, leadership, and perseverance of Gaziano. Recipients will be selected by the awards committee based on their strong leadership on the field, in the classroom and in the community.
To qualify for consideration, each applicant must be a high school senior, have competed at the varsity level for a minimum of two years and have an exemplary record of positive athletic and non-athletic citizenship.
The submission of a student essay and a game film featuring the applicant competing against his toughest competitor are also part of the application process. Applicants from all levels of Maine’s high school football three-class system are eligible for the scholarship and are nominated by their coaches.
Earlier this year, National Distributors announced that this year the two winners will receive $5,000 each and the four runner-ups will receive $1,000. The increase in the amount doubles the scholarship from previous years, making it the largest high school scholarship of its kind in the country.
The award and scholarship presentations to the Frank Gaziano Award winners will be announced at a banquet brunch on Sunday, Jan. 27 at 9 a.m. at the Augusta Civic Center. For more information, please go to www.gazianolinemanawards.org.