32nd Annual Scholar-Athlete Awards Dinner for the Greater Morris County Chapter of the National Football Foundation

FLORHAM PARK, NEW JERSEY - On Thursday, March 26, 2026, the Greater Morris County Chapter of the National Football Foundation gathered for its 32nd Annual Scholar-Athlete Dinner at The Park Avenue Club in Florham Park, NJ. More than just a banquet, it was a celebration of character; an evening that brought together families, coaches, educators, and community leaders to honor 37 outstanding high school football scholar-athletes from Morris, Sussex, and Warren counties, along with a distinguished college scholar-athlete from Fairleigh Dickinson University. The night stood as a testament to what young people can accomplish when they commit to excellence on the field, in the classroom, and in the community.

The evening also shone a well-deserved spotlight on three distinguished honorees whose careers exemplify the values the National Football Foundation holds dear.

• Tommy DeVito, a Don Bosco Prep alumnus who went on to play quarterback in the NFL, most recently with the New York Giants before joining the New England Patriots, was recognized as the evening’s football honoree. A New Jersey native who rose from local standout to professional athlete, DeVito’s story resonated deeply with the young scholar-athletes in the room; proof that the journey from a Friday night game under local lights can lead somewhere extraordinary.

•  Phil Cuzzi was equally deserving of recognition, honored with the Distinguished American Award. A longtime Major League Baseball umpire with decades of service at the highest level of the sport, Cuzzi has become equally well known off the field as the founder of the Robert Luongo ALS Foundation. Named for a dear friend lost to the disease, the Foundation has raised millions of dollars to support patients, families, and loved ones affected by ALS, and Phil’s tireless advocacy has made him a true friend to the Greater Morris County Chapter and the broader NFF community.

• Chris Kubik was recognized as the Distinguished Coach, a title earned through 19 dedicated years as head coach at Madison High School. Over that time, Kubik built a program defined not just by wins, but by the character of the young men who came through it. His ability to bring out the best in his athletes, instilling the enduring lessons of teamwork, discipline, and personal responsibility, has left a lasting mark on countless players whose lives he shaped well beyond the playing field.

At its heart, the Annual Scholar-Athlete Dinner is an expression of the National Football Foundation’s mission: to use the power of amateur football to promote leadership, academic achievement, and sportsmanship in young people. The Greater Morris County Chapter has embraced that mission wholeheartedly, and each year the dinner serves as a powerful reminder of how much is possible when a community invests in its youth.

None of this would be possible without the support of the Chapter’s foundation sponsors, Atlantic Health Systems and the New York Jets. Their generosity underwrites the work of the Chapter throughout the year, including the awarding of six scholarships annually to deserving scholar-athletes who will carry these values forward into college and beyond. Atlantic Health Systems added a memorable touch to the evening by inviting Dr. Neil Shah, Associate Medical Director for Musculoskeletal Imaging for AMG Radiology, to attend as a special guest. Dr. Shah is himself a former NFF Scholar-Athlete honoree, recognized in the Chapter’s 1997 class from Randolph High School, a beautiful reminder of the long arc of the Foundation’s impact and the caliber of young men it has honored over the years. The Chapter’s board expressed its gratitude to both organizations, whose commitment to youth development and education continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people across the Greater Morris County region.

As the evening drew to a close, the energy in the room spoke for itself. The 32nd Annual Scholar-Athlete Dinner was more than a night of recognition; it was a gathering of people who believe in the power of hard work, character, and community. The athletes honored represent the very best of what high school football has to offer: young men who compete with passion, study with purpose, and carry themselves with the kind of integrity that makes their families, schools, and communities proud. The Greater Morris County Chapter of the National Football Foundation looks forward to continuing this tradition and honoring future generations who rise to meet its standard of excellence.

The Scholar-Athletes that were honored included:

Girard Yoo, Delbarton School

Joaquin Prieto, Dover High School

Ethan Yak, Fairleigh Dickinson University

Tyler Jenkins, Hackettstown High School

Gianmarco Canziani, Hanover Park High School

Jerron Martress, High Point Regional High School

Michael Certo, Hopatcong High School

Ethan Thompson, Jefferson Township High School

Soren Porada, Kinnelon High School

Joaquin Brex, Kittatinny High School

Chase De Oliveira, Lenape Valley High School

Allan Eldridge, Madison High School

Richard Fardo, Montville Township High School

Ethan Everett, Morris Catholic High School

Devin Ginder, Morris Hills High School

Dean Cervona, Morris Knolls High School

James Dzikowski, Morristown High School

Darius Payne, Morristown Beard School

James Rizzo, Mount Olive High School

Carson Fitch, Mountain Lakes High School

Sean Dietz, Newton High School

Mason Inscho, North Warren Regional High School

Christian Marto, Parsippany High School

Nicholas Vico, Parsippany Hills High School

Shane Albinson, Pequannock Township High School

Shawn Baumann, Pope John XXIII Regional High School

Benjamin Quinn, Randolph Township High School

Jonah Kali, Roxbury High School

Stone Herbison, Sparta High School

Gavin Gardner, Sussex County Technical School

Junior Troche, Vernon Township High School

Justin Bonaparte, Wallkill Valley High School

Thomas Borgia, West Morris Central High School

Shea Kraft, Mendham High School

Oleksandr Kulyk, Whippany Park High School

For pictures from the evening, click this link - photos