Nathan Rushing, of Middletown High in Frederick County, won the grand prize of a $4,000 college scholarship last night at Martin's West, where the Greater Baltimore chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame held its 36th annual Scholar Athlete Awards dinner.
Rushing, a 4.0 student who has been named to attend West Point, ranks No. 1 in his class of 274 and is a National Honor Society member.
The 6-foot-2, 235-pound fullback and defensive end was a three-year starter and first-team All-Valley performer, and was Frederick County's Defensive Player of the Year. He was the West region winner.
Four other athletes were selected as regional winners of $1,500 scholarships: Gilman's Chisom Opara, Lansdowne's Jonathan Brunelle, Patapsco's Matthew Layman, and Dunbar's Christopher Barnes.
Opara, the North region winner, was a first-team All-Metro selection at wide receiver. He also plays basketball and baseball and is an honor roll student.
Brunelle, the South region winner, is a 6-0, 160-pound wide receiver and safety who ranks No. 1 in his class with a 4.0 grade-point average. He is a two-time first-team All-Baltimore County selection as a place-kicker and punter.
Layman, the East region winner, is a 5-8, 200-pound offensive guard and middle linebacker and a first-team All-Baltimore County Class 2A selection. He is credited with leading his Patapsco team to its best season in 27 years. Layman ranks No. 1 in his class, is a National Honor Society member and participates in student government and marching band.
Barnes, the Central region winner, is a 6-1, 195-pound wide receiver and defensive end who earned second-team All-Metro honors. A team captain and honor roll student, he ranks in the top 20 percent of his class.
Also honored last night were Class 1A state football champion Oakland Mills, Class 2A state football champion Urbana, from Frederick County, and NCAA Division III Centennial Conference champion Western Maryland College.
The Paul A. Menton Award as the area's top scholastic school went to Gilman. Severna Park coach Andy Borland won the Service to Football Award.
Pub Date: 3/11/99