Powell's Mills named top Scholar-Athlete

Wyoming’s top prep football Scholar-Athlete for 2008 is Gavin Mills of Powell High School. Mills, who has received an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy, was honored Saturday night at the 15th annual banquet of the Wyoming Chapter, National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. As the state’s top scholar-athlete, Mills was presented scholarships totaling $2,400.

A total of 14 high school and two University of Wyoming football scholar-athletes were honored at the banquet. Wyoming Chapter President Mike Schutte said $21,400 in scholarships was handed out at the sold-out event, held for the first time in Laramie at the University of Wyoming Conference Center.

Mills is a three-time First Team All-State and All-Conference honoree and was the Class 4A Defensive Player of the Year in 2007. On offense as a wide receiver, Mills had 66 career receptions for 905 yards and 17 touchdowns. As a free safety, Mills recorded 335 defensive points, including 67 unassisted tackles, 103 assisted tackles, 11 pass break-ups, 11 pass interceptions and three fumble recoveries over his career.

Mills ranks first in his Powell High School senior class of 134 students with a 4.0 GPA (Grade Point Average) and a score of 27 on his ACT. A three year member of the National Honor Society, he was awarded the Distinguished Scholastic Achievement Award for the past three years, the Wyoming Coaches Association’s Academic Award the past three years and he has won three academic letters.

Mills is the current student body president at PHS. He is a member of the Future Farmers of America, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Student Peer Abstinence Movement, and he is the First Chair and Percussion Section Leader in Band. He is also a three-year letterman in both basketball and track. He has earned All-State and All-Conference honors in track during 2006 and 2007.

New UW head football coach Dave Christensen addressed the athletes and the 480 attendees at the banquet, and Schutte delivered a motivational speech honoring the assembled athlete’s dedication to the game and hard work, both on and off the field of play.

All of the Wyoming Chapter’s honorees received commemorative plaques and $1,200 scholarships.

Ten state residents were also recognized for their respective contributions to high school and UW fandom, contributions to amateur football, plus achievement in coaching and officiating.

(The Wyoming Chapter Selection Committee, based on the high number of outstanding nominations, chose as finalists two backs each from Classes 1-A and 5-A.)
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Wyoming’s Top Scholar-Athlete for 2008
Gavin Mills, Powell (back)
Finalists and Special Award Recipients
Class 1-A
Trevor Ross, Southeast (lineman)
Rage Geringer, Guernsey Sunrise (back)
Andrew Petersen, Cokeville (back)
Class 2-A
Chad McKinney, Encampment (lineman)
Duell Petsch, Burns (back)
Class 3-A
Casey Hoskinson, Glenrock (lineman)
Duncan Jones, Wright (back)
Class 4-A
Kyle Lenz, Wheatland (lineman)
Gavin Mills, Powell (back)
Class 5-A
Nathan Bales, Green River (lineman)
Tom Earl, Natrona County (back)
Garrett Heusinkveld, Campbell County (back)
University of Wyoming
Michael Ray, Safety
Jake Edmund, Linebacker
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The Keith and Joyce Bloom Scholar-Athlete Courage Award
Brett Johnson, Kemmerer
Scholar-Athlete Perseverance Award
Nathan Rogers, Rock Springs
Greatest UW Football Fan
Rod Chisholm, Laramie
Brian Morgen, Sheridan
Greatest High School Football Fan
Van, Barbara and Travis Johnson, Evanston
Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football
Bob Hammond, Laramie
Steve Core, Green River
Troy Wilkinson, Greybull
Football Coach Career Achievement Award
Don Dinnel, Evanston
The Ox Zellner Football Official Career Achievement Award
Rusty Anderson, Casper