PHOENIX, Ariz. – Northern Arizona football long snapper Ben Bachelier will join Aaron Pflugrad, a star wide receiver at Arizona State University, headlining the 2012 NFF Scholar Athlete Class by the Valley of the Sun Chapter of the National Football Foundation at the 31st Annual Chapter Awards Banquet, March 3, 2012, at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort.

"It is really an honor and humbling," said Bachelier. "It makes you appreciate all the hard work you put in and it is good to be recognized and be a role model for the young kids out there."

They will be honored with the top 50 high school football scholar athletes, representing central and northern Arizona. Each athlete was nominated by his high school coach for exemplary performance in academics, honors and accomplishments in football, and an exceptional commitment to school activities, and community service and volunteerism.

Bachelier was the 26th Capital One Academic All American from NAU, an Academic All District 8 selection, and was the NAU Gold Axe recipient, an award given to the top students among the graduating seniors at the University. Bachelier graduated in December 2011 with a four-year cumulative grade point average of 3.98. Completing over 200 snaps on special teams in his four seasons, the Lumberjack punter and team kicker attribute their All-Big Sky honors to Ben's consistency and dependability.

Pflugrad was a two-year starter for the Sun Devils, after transferring from Oregon, and was one of two Devils receivers to record a catch in all 13 games in 2011. He participated in the 2012

Casino del Sol College All Star Game. Aaron received CoSIDA First Team Academic All-District VIII honors, earned Second Team Academic All-PAC 12 accolades, and was a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy which recognizes the best college scholar athlete in the nation. He graduated Cum Laude with his bachelor's degree in marketing in May 2011, and is presently working on his Masters in liberal studies, with close to a 4.0 GPA.

Coach Joe Kersting, currently at Deer Valley HS, will be honored with the Fran and Frank Kush Lifetime Achievement Coaching Award; Jane and Geoffrey Edmunds, of Paradise Valley, will be presented the Chapter's Distinguished Arizonan Award, for their philanthropy and lifelong support of amateur football; and, longtime amateur sport referee and official, Fritz Goreham, of Scottsdale, will be presented the Bob Madrid Outstanding Official Award. NFF Board Member Tracy Uffelman, of Alliance Beverage, will receive the 2012 Chapter Leadership Award.