The Casey-O’Brien New Haven County Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame conducted its 63rd Annual Scholar Athlete dinner on April 12 at Aqua Turf in Southington
“We are very pleased to recognize twenty-nine outstading young men that excel in the classroom and played football this past fall for their academic excellence, leadership and citizenship,” said Anthony Mortali president of the chapter. “We are pleased to honor another group before their parents, grandparents and friends”.
In addition to the scholar-athletes four other award winners were honored including 33 year football official John Tullo of North Haven who will be presented the Official Recognition Award. Selected by the New Haven Football Officials Association John is considered one of the top officials in the area. He served in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. In addition, Kevin O’Brien of Hamden received the Chapter Award of Merit for his work with the chapter over the past 18 years including serving as chairman of the Scholar-Athlete Selection Committee. He has also been a member of the Walter Camp Football Foundation since 1975, serving as president from 1990 to 1992.
The Chapter Coach of the Year Award was presented to Anthony Sagnella coach of the North Haven Nighthawks. Anthony has been the coach at North Haven since 1997, winning 152 games, 12 league/division titles, with 9 CIAC playoff appearances and this past season winning the Class MM State Championship defeating Killingly, 51-34.
The chapters Distinguished American Award will be presented to WTNH’s Ann Nyberg, who has spent more than 40 years in television news. She is the longest serving female news/anchor in Connecticut television history. In 2015 Ann was inducted into the prestigious Silver Circle an honor given to television professionals who have made significant contributions to the community. Ann was voted “Best News Anchor” for a decade in Connecticut Magazine Readers Poll. In 1993 she founded the Toy Closet Program at Yale New Haven Hospital.