By: Matt Rothman
North Broward Prep senior Ryan Scanlon was officially named a finalist for the Brian Piccolo Scholarship Award.
Named after the late NFL player and South Florida native Brian Piccolo, the award recognizes senior athletes from Broward County schools who excel in the classroom, the community, and the football field.
Scanlon, who resides in Coral Springs, was one of 40 students in Broward County to win for excelling both on and off the field.
Nominated by football coach Rex Nottage, Scanlon was joined by Dawn Spoto, Coach Vincent Greco, Coach Don Siegle, Marina Siegle, and Josh Krulik at the ceremony.
“Winning this award is one thing but to represent my school in this way is an honor for me and my family,” Scanlon said. “I want to thank my coaches and friends and, most of all, family for helping me get to this point.”
At NBP, Scanlon is a four-year member of the varsity football team and the team manager for the baseball team. In the classroom, he has a 4.1 GPA. Scanlon works as a camp counselor at Eagles Landing and is part of the Disability Awareness Club.
He has been a Student Senator, Youth Mentor, and Volunteer for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Broward County and a member of the English, Spanish, and National Honor Societies.
The journey for Scanlon has been anything but easy. Before he was born, Scanlon faced an obstacle changing his entire life with a stroke on the right side of his body in utero, leaving him with weakness on his right side.
Still, Scanlon has never let it affect him. Coach Nottage recalls one of the first days at practice after the Eagles completed a 2.5-hour training in the heat, the team must run 10 x 100-yard sprints. While a handful of players could not complete it, Scanlon finished every run and broke the team huddle at the end of practice.
“He truly depicts what Brian Piccolo stands for,” Coach Nottage said. “Brian Piccolo dealt with adversity, and he inspired many people just like Ryan does. Besides inspiring people, it’s the other things that make them special. Their academics, both positive influences to other people, and the never-quit attitude.”
After Scanlon graduates this Spring, he will be heading up North to Villanova University in Pennsylvania and become the fourth member of his family to become a Wildcat.
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