Steve Embry a Semifinalist for NFF Scholar-Athlete Award

Hillsdale College senior linebacker Steve Embry was named a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award, presented by Fidelity Investments. The announcement and list of semifinalists was released Wednesday.

Embry is one of 170 semifinalists for this award, which covers all levels of college football, from Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I) to the NAIA. He one of just three players from the GLIAC to make the cut, joining Ohio Dominican's Dominic Clegg and Wayne State's Chet Privett.

The 170 national semifinalists are the most for the foundation since 2006, when it increased candidates' grade point average miniumums for the award to 3.2. A total of 24 semifinalists come from Division II, while 54 come from the FBS.

Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards 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. The class is selected each year by the NFF Awards Committee, which is comprised of a nationally recognized group of media, College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.

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