Eastern’s Mattson Earns Honor
Eastern Washington University Academic All-America football player Steve Mattson has been selected as a 1997 Burger King Football Scholarship winner and will be recognized during ABC Television’s college football coverage Saturday. In addition, EWU will receive a $10,000 donation to the school’s scholarship fund in Mattson’s name.
Mattson, a 6-4-1/2 senior defensive end from Naselle, Wash., is one of eight football players nationwide who are recognized in Burger King’s first class of honored players. The first class also includes Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning and Montana running back Josh Branen.
A 3.68 pre-med major, Mattson will graduate next spring with a bachelor of science degree. He expects to take the medical college admission test in April, then will probably take a year off to volunteer or work in a hospital while he goes through the medical school application process.
“It’s a great honor,” Mattson said. “Football has given me a great deal of leadership skills and has helped develop my personality. College is a great place, and it’s a great feeling if you’re able to do well in football and succeed in the classroom.”
A total of 80 athletes will be honored during the course of the season. One from each division will be selected as finalists for the 1997 Burger King Vincent Draddy Scholarship Athlete of the Year and earn their school an additional $25,000 donation. In December, Burger King will announce its scholar-athlete of the year at the National Football Foundation dinner and will endow a $100,000 scholarship to the award-winner’s school.
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