MINNEAPOLIS, MN – March 18, 2016 - University of Minnesota offensive lineman Jon Christenson will receive the Stein-Fallon College Scholar Athlete Award from the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation. The award will be presented at the 9th Annual Minnesota Football Honors on April 17 at the Hilton Minneapolis. The award is named after Minnesota Gopher great Bob Stein and business leader Pat Fallon.

Christenson graduated in 2014 with an undergraduate degree in biochemistry and a chemistry minor. He is pursuing a master’s degree in public health administration and policy, and aspires to be an orthopedic surgeon and work in sports medicine. During his scholastic career, Christenson spent two years conducting cancer research involving nanotubes and and the effects of microRNA on liver cancer.

A four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Christenson has been named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (3.7 grade point average or above) twice and is expected to earn the award again this spring. He has earned the Golden Gophers’ Butch Nash Award, given to the player who is most competitive on the field and in the classroom, three times.

Christenson accomplished all this while playing regularly for the Gophers’ front five. He arrived on campus as a walk-on but went on to earn a scholarship. Christenson was the Gophers’ starting center in 2013 before suffering a broken leg, which he was able to diagnose on the field. He played 2014 with a rod in his leg, and started eight of his 10 games in 2015 at the guard position.

As a captain in 2015, Christenson helped protect for an offense that passed for 2,793 yards (most since 2008) and 15 touchdowns (most since 2010). The Gophers also rushed for 1,873 yards and 17 touchdowns. In addition to the Butch Nash Award, Christenson received the team’s Paul Giel Award for selflessness and most concern for the U of M, and the Tony Dungy Award for character on and off the field. Outside of football and school, Christenson is active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

The 9th Annual Minnesota Football Honors event is presented by the Minnesota Vikings. College and professional football Hall of Fame inductees are scheduled to attend, and WCCO-TV news personality Frank Vascellaro will return for his ninth 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.

About the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation
The Minnesota Chapter of The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a local non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and develop the power of amateur football in developing the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, competitive spirit and academic excellence in Minnesota’s young people. The MN 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.minnesotafootballhonors.com, Facebook or Twitter.

Contact:
Lindsay Lommel, Event Manager
MN Chapter of The National Football Foundation
lindsay@nffmn.org