Gilman graduate Stephen Spanellis was named one of the top five National High School Scholar-Athlete Awards winners Wednesday by the National Football Foundation.
Spanellis, a two-time All-Metro offensive lineman now playing at Michigan, is the second straight Gilman player to win. Jelani Roberts, now a sophomore receiver at Northwestern, won last year.
He is the fourth Michigan player to receive the award, which is based on high school accomplishments.
The East Region winner, he will be honored, along with the other four regional winners, at the NFF Chapter Awards Luncheon on Dec. 6 in New York City.
At Gilman, Spanellis earned an academic average of 94.57 and was on the honor roll every year of high school. He also worked with Habitat for Humanity and joined in weekly bible study.
A football team captain, he was called "a gigantic monster" by former Gilman coach Biff Poggi for his size -- now 6 feet 6, 335 pounds -- and his playing style.
At offensive tackle, Spanellis was part of an dominating line considered one of the best ever in the Baltimore metro area. Last fall, his unit allowed just six sacks and paved the way for 272 rushing yards per game as the No. 1 Greyhounds went undefeated through the MIAA A Conference.
Last month, Spanellis was nominated as one of six finalists from the East Region. In March, the Greater Baltimore Chapter NFF named him one of five local winners at it's 53rd Annual Scholar Athlete Awards Dinner.
"I think this is a great honor," said Spanellis, after the dinner in March. "It's really nice to be recognized for all the hard work I put in over the last four years."