Student Spotlight: Jack Rice ’24 Receives Scholar-Leader-Athlete Award

Ethan Zhu ’26 in News | April 5, 2024

On March 10, Jack Rice ’24 received the George Wah Scholar-Leader-Athlete award from the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Delaware Valley Chapter. The award is given annually to a high school football scholar-athlete who displays outstanding academic accomplishment, school leadership, and football performance. Rice received the award’s highest degree of recognition, the Jack Stephan $5,000 Scholarship. Congratulations to Rice!

Following his nomination by the Lawrenceville football team, Rice submitted his academic transcripts and a resume listing his athletic and extracurricular accomplishments. “I put in any awards, jobs, and clubs I had, so it wasn’t just football that they considered,” Rice explained. Aside from being a member of the Boys Varsity Lacrosse team, he serves as Lawrenceville’s Varsity Football Captain, coaches several local youth teams, and works as a camp counselor in the summer.

Reflecting on his football career, Rice described receiving the award as a full circle moment. “It was really special to represent Lawrenceville and win an award similar to one I had won before I started my high school football career and do the same as I leave,” he continued. Rice further explained that at the age of 14, he received the Delaware Valley “Little Scholar” award, which honors younger students of similar qualities and talent.

Winning this award during his V Form year, Rice takes pride in his athletic journey. Rice had begun his high school football career on West Windsor North’s Varsity team, but he later reclassed at Lawrenceville as a III Former after the Covid lockdown. Rice then became an integral part of Lawrenceville’s Varsity Football team as he played from his III to V Form years. “This year, I was named Captain, and I feel we really turned the team around from one that didn’t win a lot of games–we’re winning a lot more now, so I’m proud of that,” Rice articulated.

Rice was accepted into Swarthmore College, where he will continue his athletic career on the men’s Division 3 lacrosse team. “I was recruited for my athletic talents, so that’ll be a large part of my college experience. I still want to study math and economics, though, and I’ve learned at Lawrenceville that [I] can juggle both,” he noted.

As Rice graduates Lawrenceville in May, he hopes his appreciation will reach the people who have aided him in his athletic career so far. “I’m really thankful for all my teammates and coaches at Lawrenceville who helped me along the way, and I couldn’t have done it without them,” Rice asserted, “A lot of this award goes to show how good people my coaches and teammates are—even more than me.” Just as Rice will miss Lawrenceville, Lawrenceville will miss him. Best of luck to Rice in his future endeavors!

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Student Spotlight: Jack Rice ’24 Receives Scholar-Leader-Athlete Award