Football: Berk Earns Academic Honor
November 01, 2004 04:04 PM | General
November 1, 2004
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MORRISTOWN, NJ – – The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame announced today, its 2004 National Scholar-Athlete Class, which this year includes student-athletes from all NCAA divisions, I-A, I-AA, II, and III.
West Virginia University senior offensive guard Jeff Berk is one of eight Division I-A football players honored.
“We are pleased to have an the opportunity to recognize college football’s best and brightest with these prestigious post-graduate scholarships, said NFF Chairman Jon F. Hanson. These gentlemen have set the standard at their institution for all future student-athletes to follow, and we salute them for their dedication in becoming standouts on the gridiron, in the classroom and in their communities.”
To be eligible for a National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame post-graduate fellowship, the nominee must be a senior or graduate student in his final year of eligibility, have a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, have shown superior academic application and performance, have outstanding football ability as a first team player, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
“After thorough review of over 150 outstanding candidates representing schools of all sizes and all playing levels, the committee’s deliberations resulted in the selection of an exceptional 15 scholar-athletes,” stated Robert E. Mulcahy III, chairman of the Awards Committee and director of athletics at Rutgers University. Knowing the importance of these awards, the committee takes the charge of selecting the best and brightest seriously, and I applaud them for this effort.
These scholar-athletes will be recognized at The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame’s 47th Annual Awards Dinner on December 7, at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. Also being honored at the dinner will be the 2004 College Football Hall of Fame Division I-A Class, which will share the dais with these scholar-athletes.
Each scholar-athlete receives an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship, and that evening, one will receive the Draddy Trophy as the top scholar-athlete in the nation, increasing the scholarship to $25,000.
Berk has proven himself as a positive force on the field for the Mountaineers, in the classroom and in the community. He has led by example his entire collegiate career earning respect from his peers, coaches and teammates.
"I'm real excited," said Berk. "I get to go to Radio City Music Hall and I get to go to Mickey Mantle's resturant so it seems like it is going to be pretty fun."
A member of the National Student Honor Society, Berk graduated in December of 2003 with a bachelor’s in athletic coaching education and is currently working toward his master’s degree in special education. An Athletics Director’s Academic Honor Roll member, he was honored by the National Student Consortium.
Berk is the leader of an offensive line that has blocked for a Top 20 ranking rushing attack each of the last three years. A second Team all-conference pick in 2003, he is the only WVU lineman to start every game during the 2002 and 2003 seasons.
Always active in the community, Berk speaks and mentors special education students and is a “Buddy Leader” in the West Virginia State Special Olympics. A vacation bible school group leader, he and his wife make numerous WVU Children’s Hospital visits and volunteer for benefits helping those afflicted with Alzheimer’s Disease. A tutor for grade school math and reading, Berk also coaches Pee-Wee football.
Berk says he has one class left to earn his master's degree. He plans on teaching special education once his football career is finished. "I will be certified in grades K through 12. I've already talked to people back home and I've already been offered jobs in elementary school and high school," he said.
Other WVU players honored were quarterbacks Oliver Luck and Jeff Hostetler, and center Eric de Groh.
