Jordan McCord-Wolbert Selected As North Clarion’s And Central Clarion Wildcats’ First Ever National Football Foundation And College Hall Of Fame-Central Pennsylvania Chapter Scholar Athlete

(Presentation Ceremony photos courtesy of Gretchen McCord-Wolbert and North Clarion – photographers Bonny Sitler and Bonnie Wolbert) Ron Vanderlinden, a representative from the National Football Foundation, Jeff Sheaffer, Principal Partner of Stahl Sheaffer Engineering, Coach Larry Wiser, Jordan, North Clarion Principal Ed Baumcratz, and North Clarion Superintendent Steve Young

Jordan McCord-Wolbert, a senior student at North Clarion, who concluded his fine football career with the Central Clarion Wildcats, this past season, after playing for the Clarion Area Bobcats, his sophomore and junior years, is the Wildcats, 2021 recipient of The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame – Central Pennsylvania Chapter’s Scholar-Athlete Award. With this past season being the first of the Wildcats’ existence, Jordan has become their first ever, as well as North Clarion High School’s first ever student athlete to receive this honor.

The chapter’s website states, “The Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Football Foundation has been supporting high school and college scholar-athletes since 1997.    

“Penn State University has been instrumental in the impact and growth of the chapter.

“Penn State University has been instrumental in the impact and growth of the chapter. The chapter is also closely aligned with the Central Pennsylvania Football Coaches Association in promoting and recognizing the scholar-athletes in 36 schools in a nine county region.” The updated figure of high schools represented as of 2020, was forty-nine. College recipients from     

High school seniors from the Central Pennsylvania Chapter’s region were recognized as Scholar-Athletes. Each school is asked to nominate one senior member of the football team for the honor. The nomination packet includes a high school transcript, official test scores (SAT/ACT) and the nominee’s commitment to community service.

In addition to being named as their school’s Scholar-Athlete, the honorees were also eligible for $1,000 scholarships provided by various sponsors. Typically, approximately a dozen scholar-athletes receive the scholarships are awarded from the various sponsors. Jordan was awarded one of the scholarships. Scholarship winners were selected based on academic achievements, athletic achievements and extracurricular-community service participation. Academic achievement accounted for forty percent of the score, athletic achievement – forty percent and extra curricular/community service participation – twenty percent. According to the program book, “The scholarship committee carefully evaluates each nominee and rank ordered them accordingly. The rank order was used to award $1,000 postgraduate scholarships.”

Typically the recipients are honored at the Scholar-Athlete Banquet, the highlight of the chapter’s year, at the The Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center’s banquet room. “Additionally, college students-athletes from three regional collegiate institutions – Penn State University, Lock Haven University and Juniata College receive recognition. The banquet allows the chapter to publicize the academic and athletic achievements of these students while they serve as leaders and role models in the community.”  

With Covid19 concerns, this year’s banquet was canceled, so the Central Pennsylvania Chapter asked members to volunteer to visit the recipients’ schools and present the scholar-athlete with their award.

So, on Friday, May 7th, the Central Pennsylvania Chapter’s Ron Vanderlinden visited North Clarion to present Jordan with his Award. Also on hand was Jeff Sheaffer, Principal Partner of Stahl Sheaffer Engineering, who presented Jordan with a scholarship check for $1,000 dollars, that Stahl Sheaffer Engineering sponsors.

Mr. Vanderlinden had a long career in the college coaching ranks. His re`sume` includes Head Coach at the University of Maryland, linebackers coach for twelve years at Penn State, University of Michigan under Bo Schembechler, University of Colorado under Bill McCarthy, the United States Air Force Academy, and Northwestern. Showing his love for scholar athletes, he asked, “How could I turn down going to schools to present the awards?”

Mr. Sheaffer, who played defensive back at Johns Hopkins University, mentioned that this is Stahl Sheaffer Engineering’s third year of sponsoring their scholarship. He mentioned that they like to “support youth in mind and body: and that this scholarship, presents “the perfect opportunity” to do just that.

Jordan plans to attend Slippery Rock University to study Civil Engineering.

Jordan was named to the 2021 Tri-County Weekend/Courier Express Football All-Star Team. Some of his academic involvement/achievements include being a member of North Clarion Student Council and the Principal’s Cabinet, and Junior Historians. Jordan is a member of the National Honor Society.

Jordan was presented with Frederick Douglass & Susan B. Anthony Award from the University of Rochester, which is given to a student who has “demonstrated commitment to understanding and addressing difficult social issues,” shows “leadership and dedication to community action” and has “strong grades and rigorous courses taken in the humanities and social sciences.” The award is one of four prestigious high school awards, along with the Bausch+Lomb Honorary Science Award, the George Eastman Young Leaders Award and the Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology given by the university. which is given to a student who has “demonstrated commitment to understanding and addressing difficult social issues,” shows “leadership and dedication to community action” and has “strong grades and rigorous courses taken in the humanities and social sciences.”

Jordan was the head scorebook keeper for the North Clarion Wolves basketball team. He is also member of North Clarion’s Science Olympiad Team and Junior Historians.

As a member of the STEM Program, Jordan participated (remotely because of Covid restrictions) with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, which according to the DOE is “the nation’s largest multi-program science and technology laboratory. The complex is in the Tennessee Valley, surrounded by the Great Smoky Mountains.

Jordan participated with students from all over the United States. He mentioned that they worked on projects to address global warming.

Some of Jordan’s community projects and activities include: being an altar server, helping with the fish fries and the Fourth of July Celebration at St. Joseph’s Church and School in Lucinda, helping with “Wreaths Across America” which places wreaths on Veterans’ Graves every December, and along with fellow members of the North Clarion Junior Historians, assisting with the restoration the Old Lucinda Train Station.

Jordan shared his thanks for a number of people. “I am thankful to Coach Wiser and Coach Eggleton for nominating me for this award. I also want to thank all of my coaches, my teachers and my parents for helping me to become the person that I am. I’m grateful that I was able to be part of the Central Clarion Wildcats team and for all the guys that I shared this experience with. I appreciate the opportunity to be able to earn this award and thank the National Football Foundation for choosing me to receive one of their Scholar Athlete Scholarships. It all means a lot to me.”

Among those on hand for the presentation were Jordan’s parents Jerry and Gretchen and brother Tyler, a former Clarion Bobcat player, North Clarion educators, Superintendent Steve Young, Principal Ed Baumcratz and Athletic Director Bonnie Wolbert, and recently retired Bobcats’ and Wildcats’ Head Coach Larry Wiser.

Miss Wolbert shared, “Jordan McCord-Wolbert is a very bright, determined, young man.  He works hard both in the classroom and on the football field.  I am so proud of his accomplishments  and especially the recognition he has received from the National Football Foundation.  I’ve always said, “North Clarion may be a small school in Clarion County, but our academic and athletic programs are exceptional.  You don’t have to be a AAAA school. You just need to set goals for yourself and work hard to achieve them. That’s what Jordan McCord-Wolbert does every day!”

Superintendent Mr. Young and Principal Ed Baumcratz had fine praise for Jordan.

Mr. Young mentioned, “Jordan is an amazing student athlete who works just as hard in the classroom as he does on the playing field. He is well respected by his peers and the faculty.  We wish him the best of luck in all future endeavors.” 

Mr. Baumcratz had this to say about Jordan and his family, “Throughout his high school career Jordan has excelled on the field and in the classroom. The teachers, administration and school board directors are so proud him for his accomplishments. Jordan is well deserving of this scholarship. It is an absolute pleasure to have Jordan in our school. He comes from a great family. I thank his parents for sharing Jordan and trusting us with educating all of their sons. Jerry and Gretchen are wonderful people and have always been very supportive of myself and the school district.

He is very happy with the football co-op and appreciative of Clarion Area and Coach Wiser. “As the high school principal of North Clarion, I’m very grateful of the Central Clarion football program. Special thanks to Clarion Area Superintendent Dr. Carrico, high school principal Natalie Miller-Martini & Nancy Mills athletic director, for supporting North Clarion students participating in football for over ten years. This football co-op has been nothing short of spectacular for our student athletes.

“Also I want to thank all our football coaches but especially Coach Wiser. Larry is truly one of the best high school football coaches in the state. He has molded so many young boys and helped developed them into men. I wish Larry a happy retirement from coaches. I know his grandson Kenny looks forward to spending more time with grandpa.

“I know this football co-op will continue to thrive for years to come.”

Coach Wiser shared about his respect for and pride in Jordan. “As Jordon’s coach, I got to spend a lot of time with him and see his tremendous personal and athletic growth over the years.This young man worked so hard year round to make his TEAM, community, school, and family proud.

“The criteria for this award: Have a grade point average 3.2 or better on a 4.0 scale; have outstanding football ability as a team player, and demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. 

“Jordon is very deserving of this award and scholarship. He has been a leader on and off  the field of play. Along with his family he is very involved with a number of activities within the community. 

“I am very proud of this young man and all that he has accomplished.”

Father and mother Jerry and Gretchen said, ” We are really proud of Jordan for all he’s accomplished. They expressed their thanks to the coaches, administrations and the National Football Foundation. “We are very grateful to Coach Larry Wiser and Coach Dave Eggleton for nominating Jordan for the National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete Award. This award means a lot to Jordan and to our family especially considering the challenges caused by Covid this past year. The encouragement, motivation and life lessons provided by all his coaches inspired Jordan to do well both academically and on the football field.

“We appreciate the Clarion, Clarion Limestone and North Clarion Superintendents, Athletic Directors, school boards, parents and all who made it possible for our kids to play a season safely this past fall. We thank his teachers for providing a great education and keeping him on track.

“Finally, we thank the individuals who make up the National Football Foundation and their scholarship sponsors. Their commitment to our players is commendable and they set a great example to our kids in helping to improve the lives of others.”

(Congratulations to Jordan on being North Clarion’s and the Central Clarion Wildcats’ first National Football Foundation Award recipient, his family, North Clarion School District and the Central Clarion Wildcats on Jordan’s receiving this fine honor!!!! You make us all very proud!!!!)

CLARION BOBCAT AND CENTRAL CLARION WILDCAT  NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION AND COLLEGE HALL OF FAME CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER – SCHOLAR ATHLETE AWARD RECIPIENTS

2009    RYAN JOHNSON (CLARION’S FIRST EVER RECIPIENT)

2010    PAT TACK (PAT WAS ONE OF 12 PLAYERS TO RECEIVE A SCHOLARSHIP FROM THE FOUNDATION.)

2011    DAN WALTERS

2012    PATRICK MEHTA (PATRICK WAS ONE OF 12 PLAYERS TO RECEIVE A SCHOLARSHIP FROM THE FOUNDATION.)

2013    CAMRON KIRKLAND (CAMRON WAS ONE OF 12 PLAYERS TO WIN A SCHOLARSHIP FROM THE FOUNDATION)

2014    ANTONIO TROESE (“MARIANNA’S FUNDRAISERS” AWARD FROM DELGROSSO FOODS)

2015    JACOB TROUTMAN

2016    BRENDAN MILLER

2017    TY BURFORD (“JOSEPH D. SARRA – COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD” [IN HONOR OF LATE PENN STATE ASSISTANT FOOTBALL COACH])

2018    NICK CHERICO (“JOSEPH D. SARRA – COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD” AND “PENNSYLVANIA COACHES’ AWARD”)

2019    ARCHER MILLS (“JOSEPH D. SARRA – COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD”)

2020    MITCH KNEPP (LEZZER LUMBER SCHOLARSHIP AWARD)

(MITCH IS CLARION-LIMESTONE’S FIRST RECIPIENT)

2021    JORDAN MCCORD-WOLBERT (STAHL SHEAFFER ENGINEERING AWARD WINNER)

(JORDAN IS NORTH CLARION’S AND CLARION CENTRAL WILDCATS’ FIRST AWARD WINNER)

(2009 WAS CLARION’S FIRST YEAR OF PARTICIPATION FOR THIS AWARD.)