MINERSVILLE - Since the Schuylkill Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame started honoring local scholar athletes back in 1962 at the Necho Allen Hotel in Pottsville, Pine Grove High School has never had anyone win the Outstanding Scholar Athlete Award.

That long drought came to an end Sunday night when Scott Werner, an outstanding offensive guard and defensive tackle, for the Cardinals was named the 2015 recipient of the award at Hillcrest Hall.Werner also received, two $1,000 scholarships (one from the James J. and Mary Edith Rhoades Charitable Foundation) and a football signed by the Schuylkill Chapter No. 25 members and this year's 14 scholar-athletes.Werner plans to attend Lebanon Valley College to play football and major in either history or political science.Other Scholar Athletes honored were Matthew Karnish of Marian, Ethen Vermillion of Panther Valley, Trevor Scripko of Tamaqua, Christian Gosch of Blue Mountain, Corbin White of Mahanoy Area, Thomas Moran of Minersville, Gino Dinicola of Pottsville Nativity, Nathan Gadinski of North Schuylkill, Aaron Mickonis of Pottsville, Ryan Fink of Schuylkill Haven, Nicholas Gurski of Shenandoah Valley, Hunter Harner of Tri-Valley and Cody Miller of Williams Valley.Trophies were presented by the Schuylkill County Commissioners to North Schuylkill (Anthracite Football League Champions and District 11 2A runnerup), Pine Grove (Eastern Conference Class II runnerup), Blue Mountain (Eastern Conference Class III champion), Marian (District 11 Class A runnerup) and Tri-Valley (Eastern Conference Class I champion).Thomas Smith, Mahanoy Area High School principal, gave the "Educator's View of a Scholar-Athlete" speech."Being the first person th bring this trophy back to Pine Grove is a real honer, "Werner said. "I'd like to first of all thank my parents, for guiding me and driving me my entire life."Werner also thanked his coaches for molding him into the player he is today. He also thanked his teammates, friend and teachers for keeping him upbeat through his entire career.Karnish, who has been accepted at Villanova University and will major in engineering, is ranked first in his class. He joined his father Gary, who was the Outstanding Scholar Athlete in 1968 as a Panther Valley recipient and brother Ryan, Marian's 2013 Scholar Athlete as those honored.The 5-9, 150 pound wide receiver and defensive back for the Colts was a two-year starter and four-year member of Stan Dakosty's team.Vermillion, a 6-1, 160-pound wide receiver and defensive end for the Panthers under first-year head coach Matt Davis, plans on attending the University of PIttsburgh and major in Engineering. In 1992, his father Richard was Panther Valley's Scholar Athlete. Ethen ranks in the top sis percent of his class. He was also a four-year member of the basketball team and played baseball for two years.Skripko, a 5-10, 210 pound fullback, tight end and linebacker for the Blue Raiders, was a three-year starter and four-year member of Sam Bonner's program. He has been accepted at East Stroudsburg University. He participated in basketball for three years and was a four-year member of the track team.