Application Proccess

Nomination

Each Maine head varsity football coach may nominate one offensive and one defensive player for the awards per year. Nominated players must complete the online application by the December 1^st deadline in order to be considered by the Selection Committee for the Award. Head coaches provide nominees with access to the online application.

Nominees must exhibit the following to be considered for the award:

Graduating senior at the varsity level for a Maine High School during the current school year.
Exemplary record of on-the-field football ability, leadership, and character.
Exceptional positive citizenship in their community and school.
Demonstrated strong classroom effort and dedicated academic pursuit.

Nominees from all levels of Maine's high school football class system are eligible for the Frank J. Gaziano Lineman Award and Scholarship.

Application

Nominees will receive access to the online application from their Head Coach. In order to be considered for the Awards, the application must be completed by the nominee to detail the following information:

Athletic Achievement:

Effectiveness as an Offensive or Defensive Lineman and football player: Effort, dedication, teamwork, ability, focus, leadership.
High School Athletic Awards & Honors
Active participation in sports and conditioning in high school

Academic Achievement:

GPA, High School Rank, SAT/ACT scores, AP courses, Honors courses, Honor Roll, etc.
Post-graduation plans: anticipated education, training, and workforce pathways
High School Academic and/or Technical Awards & Honors; e.g. National Honor Society and/or National Technical Honor Society

School / Community Service:

High School Extracurricular Activities
Community Service Activities
Letter of Recommendation from Head Coach
Letter of Recommendation from one (1) of the following: Principal, Vice/Assistant Principal, Dean, Athletic Director
One-to-two page personal essay to support and enhance candidacy for the Awards

Evaluation Process

Applicant Qualities

Applicants must possess the following:

Personal standards and accomplishments which are positive models for others;
High levels of integrity, honesty, and citizenship; and,
In the determination of the Selection Committee, have benefited from their participation in high school interscholastic athletic programs.

Minimum Qualifications

To qualify for the Frank J. Gaziano Memorial Offensive and Defensive Lineman Awards, the applicant must meet or exceed all of the following minimum qualifications:

Be a graduating senior;
Have competed at the varsity level during the current school year for a Maine High School;
Played a majority of time at a position considered either offensive line or defensive line;
Be able to verify an exemplary record of positive athletic and non-athletic citizenship.
Submit a fully completed application with all requirements by the posted deadline.
Submit one game video of the nominee playing against their team's best opponent. The video must be submitted via HUDL.

Winner Criteria

The Selection Committee will use the following criteria to select one offensive winner and one defensive winner and the runners-up:

Academic Achievement - 20%;
School / Community Service - 20%;
Athletic Achievement - 60%;

The top three candidates on both offense and defense will be announced as Semi-finalists. A Winner will be selected from the Semi-finalists and awarded with the Frank J. Gaziano Memorial Offensive or Defensive Lineman Award, including a scholarship check and trophy. The four remaining semi-finalists will also be awarded a scholarship check.