Our Lens

Hampshire Honor Society 2017 Membership Announced by National Football Foundation

Record 1,103 players from all-time high 302 colleges and universities honored as the Society celebrates its 11th year.
Morristown, N.J.

Launched in 2007 by the National Football Foundation (NFF) behind the leadership of The Hampshire Companies Founder and Chairman Jon. F. Hanson, the NFF Hampshire Honor Society recognized a total of 1,103 players from 302 schools in 2017, breaking all previous years’ records for the program. Now in its 11th year, the NFF Hampshire Honor Society is designed to highlight football’s unique ability to develop tomorrow’s brightest leaders, and it honors the college football players from all divisions of play who each maintain a 3.2 GPA or better during their collegiate careers.

The NFF Hampshire Honor Society capitalizes on the NFF’s National Scholar-Athlete program by greatly expanding the number of scholar-athletes the NFF can recognize each year. The program further strengthens the organization’s leadership role in encouraging academic performance by the student-athletes who play football at the 776 colleges and universities with football programs nationwide.

The Hampshire Companies and its founder and chairman, Jon F. Hanson, who served as NFF chairman from 1994-2006 and has continued in an emeritus capacity ever since, provided the endowment to launch the NFF Hampshire Honor Society in 2007. Hanson made the endowment in perpetuity through The Hampshire Companies, and its charitable arm, The Hampshire Foundation, to ensure the continued promotion of the scholar-athlete ideal. Since its inception, 7,737 student-athletes have earned membership to the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, and the program has experienced growth every year in either members or school participation since its launch.

“It was my great privilege to endow the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, which has greatly increased the number of college student-athletes the NFF has been able to recognize during the past 11 years,” said Hanson. “Nationwide there are thousands of football players excelling in the classroom, and they’re going on to be great leaders. The NFF Hampshire Honor Society continues to grow and allows us to shine a light on their hard work.”

“We are pleased to see a record number of colleges and universities embrace the Hampshire Honor Society this year,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “Over the past decade, it has become a powerful vehicle for schools to recognize their college football players who have distinguished themselves both academically and athletically, and we congratulate the schools and each of these young men for their commitment to excellence in all aspects of their lives.”

“We have honored more than 7,700 student-athletes in the last 11 years thanks to Jon Hanson’s generosity,” added NFF Chairman Archie Manning. “We are grateful for his passionate belief in the scholar-athlete ideal, and the Hampshire Honor Society allows us to showcase the names of tomorrow’s leaders while inspiring future generations to follow in their footsteps.”

Nineteen schools had at least 10 honorees in 2017, including Boise State, Brown, Carnegie Mellon (Pa.), Central (Iowa), Chicago (Ill.), Colorado School of Mines, Dayton, Elmhurst (Ill.), Hendrix (Ark.), Huntingdon (Ala.), Juniata (Pa.), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Morningside (Iowa), Nebraska Wesleyan, Pacific Lutheran (Wash.), Saint John’s (Minn.), Southwestern (Texas), St. Thomas (Minn.) and Yale.

Brown in the FCS and Saint John’s (Minn.) in Division III led the way with 18 honorees each in 2017, tying Union (N.Y.) in 2012 for the most members in a single year. Boise State led all FBS schools with 11 members. Colorado School of Mines led Division II with 10 members while Morningside (Iowa) led the NAIA with 11. Click here for a full list of 2017 Hampshire Honor Society members.

The Hampshire Honor Society represents an important component in the NFF’s rich history as an innovator in promoting the scholar-athlete ideal. Qualifications for membership in the NFF Hampshire Honor Society include:

  • Being a starter or a significant contributor in one’s last year of eligibility (or a senior who has declared for the NFL Draft) at an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III or an NAIA college or university;
  • Achieving a 3.2 cumulative grade point average throughout entire course of undergraduate study; and
  • Meeting all NCAA/NAIA-mandated progress towards degree requirements.

About The Hampshire Companies
The Hampshire Companies is a full-service, private real estate investment firm based in Morristown, New Jersey. The Hampshire Companies is a vibrant, dynamic organization that combines creative vision and superior execution, thereby enabling it to create and enhance value in real estate investments. Additional information on the Hampshire Companies is available online at www.hampshirere.com.

About the Hampshire Foundation
The Hampshire Foundation is the charitable arm of The Hampshire Companies, a privately-held, fully-integrated real estate firm that has more than 60 years of hands-on, cycle-tested experience in acquiring, developing, leasing, repositioning, managing, financing and disposing of real estate. Founded by Jon F. Hanson, who served as NFF Chairman from 1994-2006, Hampshire is headquartered in Morristown, N.J. Learn more at www.hampshirere.com.

About The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. With 120 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include FootballMatters.org, the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, The William V. Campbell Trophy presented by Fidelity Investments, annual scholarships of more than $1.3 million and a series of initiatives to honor the legends of the past and inspire the leaders of the future. NFF corporate partners include Delta Air Lines, Fidelity Investments, Herff Jones, Hofmann Brands, New York Athletic Club, Pasadena Tournament of Roses, PrimeSport, the Sports Business Journal, Under Armour and VICIS. Learn more at www.footballfoundation.org.

Media Contacts:
National Football Foundation:
Phil Marwill | 917-579-4256 
pmarwill@footballfoundation.com
               
The Hampshire Companies: 
Tiffany Miller | 908-722-5757
tmiller@ranjsc.com