Flaherty Award To Ev’s Shogren Two-Way Standout, 4.0 Student Receives A $2,500 Scholarship

Mike Price captured the spirit of the Inland Northwest Chapter National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame scholarathlete awards banquet perfectly.

“This banquet is what it’s all about,” the Washington State football coach said Monday night at the Red Lion City Center Hotel.

“I’m tired of hearing about … college and pro athletes screwing up. Aren’t you?”

A crowd of about 350 responded enthusiastically because, just moments before, Paul Shogren, a 4.0 student and two-way All-Frontier League first-team football player for East Valley High School, received the Ray Flaherty Award and the $2,500 scholarship that goes with it.

“It’s a great program,” Shogren said. “It rewards kids not only for athletics but academics and what they do in the community. It’s great to reward kids who are well-rounded. I was very surprised with all the stiff competition.”

Shogren is co-valedictorian at East Valley and was nominated for the East-West game. Shogren, 6-foot, 192 pounds, also plays baseball and he is a member of Spanish Club, Calculus Club, National Honor Society, ASB, D.A.R.E., High-Five and band.

Paul Smith, a 4.0 student and three-year starter at Colville High, received a $2,000 scholarship as Lineman of the Year.

Ty Gregorak of West Valley and Serign Marong of Pullman split a $2,000 scholarship as Back of the Year.

Gregorak, who recently committed to the University of Colorado, was the Frontier League Player of the Year on defense. A two-time All-State player, he is a 3.67 student. Marong, a 4.0 student who plans to attend Washington State, was the Frontier League Lineman of the Year.

Each of the 10 finalists received $1,000 scholarships. The others were Jason Delp of Medical Lake; Ryan Knowles, Sandpoint; Scott Sulpizio, Mead; Justin Boeck, Sandpoint; Adam Jarrad, Rogers; and Scott McGlocklin, Mead.

Price made three points, although he agreed that each of the finalist were hearing something they already knew, considering their accomplishments.

“You are a role model, no matter what Charles Barkley says,” Price said. “Second, it’s not what happens to you in life, it’s how you react to what happens to you in life.”

The last was to set goals.

It worked for Gregorak, who was in the audience as a sophomore when the first banquet was held and vowed to attend as a finalist.

Gregorak is going to Colorado, but Shogren, who is not being recruited by a big school, won the major award.

“This is a perfect example,” he said. “My academics and community involement got me through.”

Brian Smith of Sandpoint was the first Ray Flaherty winner. Giorgio Usai of Central Valley was last year’s recipient.

Former Washington Redskins lineman Jim Barber was honored as the outstanding contributor to football.

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