MINNEAPOLIS, MN - April 6, 2015 - The Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation is excited to announce the 2015 Scholar Athlete award winners. The nine scholar-athletes reside in communities across the state of Minnesota and will be recognized at the 8th Annual Minnesota Football Honors on May 3, 2015 at the Hilton Minneapolis. This year's winners were chosen for their academic excellence, displays of outstanding leadership, and commitment to their communities.

Ben Shoults is a standout offensive lineman who helped Maple Grove High School go 29-4 with two state tournament appearances in his three varsity seasons. Both the Minnesota Football Coaches Association and Northstar Football News chose Shoults for their 2014 All-State Teams. Shoults was a KARE-11 and Star Tribune All-Metro honoree, and was also named the Northwest Suburban Conference Lineman of the Year. He has also played hockey, baseball and basketball.

A Minnesota Football Coaches Association Academic All-State selection and National Honor Society member, Shoults has consistently made the A honor roll. He has committed to play football at Harvard and intends to be a pre-medicine major.

Shoults has also shown leadership through his participation in student tutoring, coaching Maple Grove youth football camps and practices, volunteering with Special Olympics and Feed My Starving Children and Maple Grove’s Link Crew, which helps orient new students. Ben’s parents are Joe and Laura.

Eight other young men will receive recognition as outstanding high school Scholar-Athletes. All of the athletes were nominated by their football coaches and were evaluated on their academic achievement, football ability, performance, leadership, attitude, and service to their community. Other 2015 honorees are Trey Anderson (White Bear Lake Area High School), Tommy Auger (St. Cloud Cathedral High School), Ben Ellefson (Hawley High School), Gunnar Grimsrud (Rochester Mayo High School), Ismael Kamara (Harding High School), Taylor Otterstatter (Mayer Lutheran High School), John Solberg (Cambridge-Isanti High School), and Mitchell Stangel (Crosby-Ironton High School).

The 8th Annual Minnesota Football Honors, presented by the Minnesota Vikings, will take place Sunday, May 3, 2015 at Hilton Minneapolis. College and professional football Hall of Fame inductees are scheduled to attend the event, and WCCO-TV news personality Frank Vascellaro will return for his eighth year as Master of Ceremonies. The event is open to the public. To register or for additional information about this year’s Minnesota Football Honors, please visit www.minnesotafootballhonors.com. For sponsorship information, please email lindsay@nffmn.org.