CONGRATS MATT ... Honored at the Waldorf Astoria in NYC ~ 2016
Matt Mitchell (Joy Christian/Phoenix College) named one of five NFF National High School Scholar Athletes ~ Representing the 32 Western Region Chapters
![]() From each class annually the Top Scholar Athlete is selected and represents the Valley of the Sun Chapter, Western Region. Through the nationwide network of 121 chapters, the top scholar athlete, one from each of five regions in the country, is nominated for recognition as the best and the brightest as a National High School Scholar Athlete for their accomplishments as athletes, scholars, and citizens at the high school levels.
Past winners: 1971 Fred Mortensen Tempe 1972 Terry Pollock Tucson 1973 Richard Rucker Tucson Canyon del Oro 1974 Mark Whipple Phoenix Camelback 1985 Kent Kiefer Tempe McClintock 1986 Nathan LaDuke Phoenix Alhambra 1987 Tom Drape Apollo 1988 Bret Powers Glendale Cactus 1989 Brian Judd Glendale Cactus 1990 Joel England Camp Verde #National Scholar Athlete 1991 Hector Gamez Phoenix St. Mary's 1992 Lance Moore Paradise Valley 1993 Brian Wolfe Scottsdale Chaparral 1994 Jeff Johnson Peoria 1995 Michael Aguirre Mesa Mountain View 1996 Todd Mortensen Tempe #National Scholar Athlete 1997 Cory Lizarraga Lakeside Blue Ridge 1998 Travis Epperson Gilbert Highland 1999 Derek Joyce Paradise Valley 2001 Chad Christensen Scottsdale Desert Mt 2002 Mike Nixon Phoenix Sunnyslope - In 2010 Nixon was named ASU College Scholar Athlete 2003 Marc Martinez Phoenix Greenway 2004 Kyle Gingg Phoenix Christian 2005 Richard Bruckel Phoenix Greenway & Benjamin Buck Chino Valley 2006 Tyler Porras Scottsdale Saquaro 2007 Matthew Phelan Chaparral & Kyle Flannery Chandler 2008 Joseph Kellogg Scottsdale Saquaro 2009 Paul Porras Scottsdale Saquaro 2010 Tevin Hood Chandler Hamilton#National Scholar Athlete 2011 Brett Hundley Chandler 2012 Joshua Weeks Show Low #National Scholar Athlete 2013 Ryan Finley Phoenix Paradise Valley 2014 Zachary Werlinger Chandler Basha #National Scholar Athlete 2015 John Ryan Parenteau* Anthem Boulder Creek * 2019 Ryan Parenteau - UC Davis - NFF Hampshire Honor Society accolades 2016 Matthew Mitchell, Joy Christian Eagles #National Scholar Athlete 2017 Corey Stephens, Scottsdale Saguaro Sabercats 2018 Bertrand "Bert" Odinet III, Brophy College Prep 2019 Dustin "Dusty" Inness, Northwest Christian School NFF High School National Team of Distinction (Inaugural) 2020 Jake Martinelli, Horizon Huskies NFF High School National Team of Distinction |