| Over $3 million in financial aid awarded in first three years |
| Miami Lakes, Fla. (www.orangebowl.org) – The fourth annual Orange Bowl Florida High School Football Showcase presented by Cleveland Clinic Florida will take place on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at St. Thomas University. The free one-day event, conducted in association with the National Football Foundation (NFF) and its local chapters, will bring together academically qualified high school seniors from Florida, and football coaches from NCAA Division II, III and NAIA programs across the country. The Orange Bowl Florida High School Football Showcase presented by Cleveland Clinic Florida provides an unprecedented opportunity for young student-athletes to use their athletic and academic skills to earn collegiate scholarships, and ultimately a college degree. In the event’s first three years, more than $3 million in financial aid has been awarded to high school student-athletes to study and play football at NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA schools. Nearly 200 student-athletes have been recruited by colleges and universities since the inception of the event. In 2017, St. Vincent College (NCAA Division III school from Latrobe, Pennsylvania—training camp home of the Pittsburgh Steelers), awarded the most players with aid (nine) while Graceland College (NAIA School from Lamoni, Iowa) awarded eight. Among Graceland’s signees was Caleb Thomas from Miami Gardens (Flanagan H.S.) who became a record-setting freshman. In 10 games he caught 158 balls (breaking the NAIA record of 144) for 1,235 yards and 10 touchdowns. His 15.8 catches per game also set an NAIA and all-division record, as did his 27 catches in one game. In 2018, NCAA Division III programs Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio and Thiel College in Greenville, Pa., each awarded seven players with financial aid respectively; tied for the most of any of the 41 colleges who attended the event. Last year, the Showcase had over 40 colleges in attendance and 69 student-athletes received over an estimated $1 million in financial aid. St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, FL (NAIA) awarded 17 student-athletes with financial contributions, the most of any college in attendance. To be eligible to participate in the 2020 Showcase, student-athletes must be graduating high school seniors who have not accepted a scholarship offer from a NCAA Division I (Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision) program. In addition, they must meet the following academic qualifications: Earn a 2.5 GPA or higher in 16 Core Courses (please visit www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/future/core-courses for a description of NCAA Eligible Core Courses); ANDEarn an SAT score of 920 (math and verbal only) or higher; ORHave a composite ACT Score of 18 or higher or a sum score of 68 or higher All NCAA Division II, III, and NAIA head football coaches are invited to attend the showcase for free. For more information about the Orange Bowl Florida High School Football Showcase presented by Cleveland Clinic Florida and to register, please visit www.orangebowl.org/showcase/. For accredited media interested in covering the event, please email mliotta@orangebowl.org. |
| About the Orange BowlThe Orange Bowl is a 370-member, primarily volunteer non-profit sports organization that promotes and serves the South Florida community. With its primary mission since being created in 1935 to bring tourism to South Florida through an annual football game and events, it has also maintained a legacy of charitable contributions and community outreach. Orange Bowl community outreach efforts are comprised of four pillars: youth sports, fundraising and community events, academic programs and scholarships, and legacy gifts. The Orange Bowl features a year-round schedule of events culminating with the Capital One Orange Bowl on December 30, 2019. For more information on the 2019-2020 Orange Bowl events, including promotional and volunteer opportunities through the Ambassador Program presented by Panera Bread, log on to www.orangebowl.org or follow the @OrangeBowl on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat. |
| ### |
