USRF Announce the 10 2012 Kevin Higgins College Scholarship Recipients

San Diego, CA (December 5, 2012) – The USRF has announced the winners of the 2012 Kevin Higgins College Scholarships. The $1,000 scholarships, named in honor of one of the all-time great U.S. centers, Kevin Higgins, (pictured), are awarded to graduating high school seniors who have gone onto continue their education and rugby at the collegiate level. This year’s 10 recipients brings the total to 41 Higgins Scholarship winners since the program was established in 2008.“Selecting the Kevin Higgins College Scholarship recipients continues to be a difficult yet rewarding task for the Scholarship Committee,” said USRF Executive Director Brian Vizard. “Every application we receive is from a deserving young man or woman and all of them would be worthy of receiving a Higgins Scholarship.”This year’s Kevin Higgins College Scholarship winners are:Alex Vogt has only been playing rugby for just over two years now but in that short amount of time he went from novice player to being named the captain of his high school team to being an A-side player at Bucknell University, in three different positions.Alex earned a 4.1 GPA at Bayard Rustin High School and was inducted into the National Honor Society his junior year.Alex became involved with Boy Scouts of America at an early age and earned his rank of Eagle Scout, the Scouts highest rank, in 2009….Read more about Alex Vogt.Austin Wortleyis a two-time cancer survivor, a Vanderbilt University freshman and an inspiration.Austin was an All-Star rugby player in high school. He starred on the Harriton High School wrestling team for four years; played on the football team from 2009-2011; and was on the track team in 2010. He was also a competitive sailor from 2009-2011. Hegraduated from Harriton with a 3.6 GPA was a member of the National Honor Society his junior and senior years. He was the Student Council’s Sergeant at Arms in 2011 and was a Student Council Committee member his senior year…Read more about Austin Wortley.Bradley Roberts was exposed to rugby early in life as he was born in England. He joined the San Diego Mustangs and first played with their U12s.Bradley’s U16 Mustangs team was the 2010 U16 Southern California champions as they finished with a 35-0 record. Bradley was the team’s MVP and he was also selected as the starting scrumhalf for the Southern California U17 Griffins. That same year Bradley was part of the first ever Torrey Pines High School rugby team. Torrey Pines also went through the season undefeated and was crowned Southern California High School Champions….Read more about Bradley Roberts.Dallas Frye began playing rugby five years ago. He’s led his Colorado Springs Grizzlies Rugby Club toColorado state titles in 2010 and 2011. And with Dallas as the Grizzlies captain in 2012, they not only defended their state title but finished third in the nation.Dallas never hesitates to volunteer his time to help others. He is also a licensed pilot. He flew about 75 hours with an experienced pilot before he was allowed to fly solo…Read more about Dallas Frye.Jake Hoffman became the starting hooker for the Plano Rugby Club in Plano, TX his sophomore season and started every match in the number two jersey until he graduated this past June. He had an outstanding senior season, guiding his team to the state championship match, leading his team in tries scored and was voted Texas’ Most Valuable Forward by Texas high school coaches.Jake also helped coach and mentor younger players at practice and at junior clinics.Jake’s overall GPA at Wakeland High School was 3.65 and he was a member of the National Technical Honor Society from 2009-2012 and the Spanish Honor Society from 2009-2011….Read more about Jake Hoffman.James Kondrat was an accomplished track & field and soccer star before he started playing rugby in his sophomore year at Xavier High School. James was part of a Xavier team that won the USA Rugby High School Championship title in 2010. The following year Xavier lost in the title match and in 2012, with James as captain, Xavier finished third in the country.James graduated with a 3.6 GPA from Xavier High School and was a member of the National Honors Society, Loyola Chapter in 2010 and 2011. He also gave generously of his time to those less fortunate….Read more about James Kondrat.Katie Mueller looked to be headed to college on a basketball scholarship but once rugby came into her life those plans changed. She was Catholic Memorial High School’s Rookie of the Year her junior year and this past year, as captain of the team, led Catholic Memorial to the Midwest Championship game as well as fourth place finishes in both the 15s and 7s National Championship tournaments.She was a member of the National Honor Society her senior year. She has been on her school’s Honor Roll without interruption since the fifth grade. She won the Outstanding Academic Achievement-President’s Education Award in the ninth grade. She was also featured in the Who’s Who in Middle School and High School in grades 6, 7, 8, and 9….Read more about Katie Mueller.Michael Sullivan played sports as a youth as a way out of growing up in Public Housing. He played all sports but once rugby came into his life, it was his new found passion. He was named his Xaverian High School rugby team’s MVP his junior year and captained the team when he was a senior. Mike never missed a day of class and he made the honor roll every term he was enrolled at Xaverian while compiling a 3.7 GPA. Mike was Vice President of Xaverian’s Student Council, participated in the school’s Senior Service program and voluntarily attended Xaverian Leadership Institute….Read more about Michael Sullivan.Taylor Honnette has been a leader on every rugby team he’s played on. He captained his Granite Bay (CA) JV Rugby teams as both a freshman and a sophomore and the Varsity teams in his junior and senior years. He was good enough to be invited to the Northern California All-Stars Canada Tour. He also coached junior high and U12 rugby.Taylor graduated from Granite Bay with a 4.1 GPA and was a member of the California Scholarship Federation his sophomore, junior and senior years. He too enjoys volunteering his time to help those in need….Read more about Taylor Honnette.Tyler Graham began playing organized rugby when he was a freshman at Indiana powerhouse, Penn High School. He enjoyed both team and individual success while at Penn. His Penn team went to the Nationals three out of Tyler’s four years there, including a second place finish this past season. Penn High School was state finalists all four years Tyler attended and they won the Midwest Tournament two of the four years Tyler played with them.He graduated this past spring with a 3.5 GPA and was a member of the National Honor Society….Read more about Tyler Graham.Donate to the Higgins Fund – Become a member of the Higgy HundredAs a means to increasing the number of annual scholarships, the Rugby Foundation has established “The Higgy Hundred” to both further honor Kevin and to nurture our country’s rugby future. Our goal is to endow the Higgins Scholarship Fund so that at least 10 scholarships are awarded annually.You can join The Higgy Hundred by contributing just $100 to the Kevin Higgins College Scholarship Fund. A gift of at least $250 puts you in Higgy’s Captain’s Club.By becoming a member of either the The Higgy Hundred or Higgy’s Captain’s Club, you will receive a Higgy Hundred t-shirt. Higgy’s Captain’s Club members will also receive a Higgy Hundred ball cap. Please don’t delay. Join Higgy’s team once again