FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – June 26, 2020 – St. Thomas Academy’s Stephen Betts has been named a Scholar Athlete by the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation. This annual award honors Minnesota high school football players for their outstanding athletic, academic and community service accomplishments. Betts, a Minneapolis, Minn. native, is one of nine scholar-athletes who will be recognized during a July television broadcast. 

Betts started at defensive back and guided his team to consecutive state championship appearances. During his senior season, he led the Cadets in tackles and interceptions. Betts received the team’s defensive MVP award and earned both All-State and All-District honors. He was also selected as a member of the Star Tribune and KARE-11 All-Metro teams. While in high school, Betts shined in the classroom and community. He posted a 4.2 GPA and earned Eagle Academic Honors awards each year. Betts became a National Merit Commended Scholar and finished in the top 2-to-3% nationally.

Betts launched his own non-profit organization called “Feeding Hungry Families,” which assists families who are living below the poverty line in North Minneapolis and St. Paul. His non-profit has raised more than $100,000 and reaches hundreds of families. Betts also created the “Betts Community Outreach Program,” which brings music to nursing homes, assisted living facilities and community centers. Through his program, he has performed more than 200 piano concerts. Betts posted thousands of community service hours and continues to leave his mark on many local organizations. 

“Stephen gives of himself in many ways, in his time, talent and energy,” said St. Thomas Academy assistant football coach David Ziebarth. “He is exactly the type of person this scholarship is designed to recognize.”

Additionally, Betts was recently named to the National Football Foundation’s 2020 Team of Distinction. 

Minnesota Football Honors is hosting a show to honor this year’s high school, college and Minnesota Vikings award winners. The broadcast is set to air in July. Special guests, including Vikings players, are scheduled to make appearances. An official broadcast date will be announced soon on www.minnesotafootballhonors.com. 

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About the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation:

The Minnesota Chapter of The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame is a local non-profit organization whose mission is to promote amateur football’s ability to develop leadership, sportsmanship, competitive spirit and academic excellence in Minnesota’s young people. The Minnesota Chapter recognizes legendary football icons, college football Hall of Famers and Minnesota’s top high school and college football scholar athletes. For more information, visit www.nffmn.org​, or Facebook (​@MNFootballHonors​) and Twitter (​@NFFMN​).

Contact:

Todd Fultz, President              

MN Chapter of The National Football Foundation 

Phone: (612)-325-5500    

Media Contact: 

Daniel House, Director of Media Relations and Content 

MN Chapter of the National Football Foundation

daniel@nffmn.org