New Life Academy football: Berg honored with award

New Life Academy’s Sam Berg was honored at the National Football Foundation Minnesota Chapter’s fourth-annual “Honoring Legends-Inspiring Leaders” awards event on April 17, at the University of St. Thomas.

Berg was among 10 scholar-athletes honored during the course of the evening. He was one of nine high school scholar-athletes recognized for demonstrating impressive achievements on the field, in the classroom, and in their communities. The recipients included Berg, Ryan Beyer (Springfield), Ryan Buria (Mountain Iron/Buhl), Tyler Hamblin (Cretin Derham Hall), Joe Hatch (New Prague), Zach Horejsi (Little Falls Community), Andrew Hughes (Holy Family Catholic), Dillon Olson (Grygla) and Alex Taray (Floodwood).

Additionally, the first annual Bob Stein College Scholar-Athlete Award was presented to Isaac Odim, a football and academic standout from the Div. II National Champion University of Minnesota-Duluth.

The sold-out crowd included College Hall of Famers Paul Wiggin, Jim Christopherson, Jeff Siemon and Leo Lewis, who represented his late father, Hall of Famer Leo "Lincoln Locomotive" Lewis. Also, for the fourth year in a row, WCCO television's Frank Vascellaro served as emcee of the event.

New University of Minnesota head football coach Jerry Kill delivered a keynote address in which he explained his 10 principles to live by and reflected on his gratitude and excitement for the opportunity to coach the Golden Gophers. He was accompanied by his wife, Rebecca Kill.

In all, 14 individuals accepted awards at the event, including retired WCCO radio personality, Ray Christensen (Distinguished Minnesotan Award), long-time athletic trainer at Minnesota State Mankato Gordy Graham (Fred Zamberletti Award), and

Super Bowl official Jerry Seeman (Outstanding Officiating Award). Todd Fultz, a former standout receiver at St. John's University, accepted the Courage Award for his remarkable recovery from a devastating auto accident in June of 2008.

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