Matt Hayden Award Information & Criteria
History
The Matt Hayden Award was established in 2003 by the NPGIA in recognition of 2004 New Palestine
High School graduate – Matt Hayden – the inaugural winner. This award was established to be one of
the highest single honors bestowed upon a graduating senior football student athlete, football student
manager, or football student trainer by the NPGIA.
Matt graduated from NPHS in 2004 as an outstanding football, baseball, and wrestling athlete. Despite
his physical limitations, Matt, by his dedication, enthusiasm, and contributions, embodied all that is
GREAT in NPHS Athletics and anything he did with honor.
Meaning / Achievements
The award is based on the characteristics that embody the spirit of Matt Hayden:
- Mental Attitude
- Leadership Abilities
- Perseverance to never give up
The award shall be given to the student athlete, manager, or trainer whose leadership and dedication to
the sport exceeds that of others on the team.
Criteria
All male and female student athletes, managers, and trainers without discrimination of race, age,
disability, or religion participating in NPHS Football in their senior year are eligible to apply. All
participants are evaluated on team leadership ability, individual academic success, community service
and/or NPHS service, and personal achievements through perseverance. All applicants should
demonstrate ambassador-like qualities and honor for the NPHS Football Program.
Note: No relative or member of the Award Selection Committee is eligible to receive this award.
Selection
The NPGIA will form an annual “Matt Hayden Award Selection Committee” consisting of one (1)
member of the Board of Directors, at least one (1) member of the NPHS Coaching Staff, and at least
three (3) current NPGIA Members. Award Candidates will be identified by the Award Selection
Committee and a recommendation for selection will be presented to the Selection Committee. Potential
candidates will be observed during their respective Dragon Football Season.
The designated NPGIA Board Member will chair the Award Selection Committee that will research the
criteria for each Candidate. This detail will be compiled by the Award Selection Committee and
presented to the Selection Board prior to the annually scheduled NPGIA Awards Program.
The Award Selection Committee may request that candidates submit to a personal interview to narrow
the final number of candidates.
The research criteria that must be adhered to by the Award Selection Committee are as follows:
- Candidate(s) must not have a relative/guardian on the Award Selection Committee or the
Selection Board. If an NPGIA Member has a son or daughter that is eligible for the award, that
Board Member must abstain from voting and may not be present during the voting for the
award. They may not participate in the Award Selection Committee.
- Candidate(s) must not have previously won the award (if repeating their senior year).
- Candidate(s) must advise the Award Selection Committee of the accredited educational
institution of their choice for furthering their education.
- If the Candidate has not selected an institution of higher learning prior to the selection
process, then the candidate must declare their intention to attend such an institution.
- Payment of the Award shall only be made to the accredited institution and not directly
to the Recipient of the Award.
- Candidate(s) or their respective parent/guardian must provide either their current cumulative
grade point average (GPA) or their current grading period results.
- The Selection Board will consist of Matt Hayden and the current NPGIA Board of Directors. No
NPGIA Board Member may participate in the voting if their son or daughter is a Candidate for
the Award. This group will review the research detail provided by the Award Selection
Committee and base their vote for an eligible Candidate on the criteria listed above. The
Candidate with the most votes will win the Award/Scholarship. In case of a tie, Matt Hayden (or
his Appointed Representative) will select the winner from the two (2) or three (3) Candidates
with the most votes.
Presentation of the Award
- Matt Hayden (or his Appointed Representative) will present the Award to the winning Candidate
at the annual NPGIA Awards Program.
- The Winner will receive an engraved plaque PLUS a ½” x 2” engraved name plate that will be
presented to the NPHS Athletic Department that adds the winner’s name to the main Matt
Hayden Award Winner’s Plaque located at NPHS.
- Matt Hayden (or his Appointed Representative) will then present a scholarship of up to five
hundred dollars ($500.00) to the accredited educational institution of choice for the current
Award Winner on behalf of the NPGIA. The total amount of the scholarship shall be dependent
on NPGIA participation for that year. (For example: Matt and Lori Hayden may contribute five
hundred dollars ($500.00) and the NPGIA may contribute five hundred dollars ($500.00) for a
total scholarship of one thousand dollars ($1000.00).
- The Award Winner must advise the NPGIA of their accredited educational institution of choice
and then the NPGIA will make the scholarship funds payable to that institution on behalf of the
recipient.
- If the NPGIA Board of Directors determines any misuse of the scholarship funds, the recipient or
their respective parent(s)/guardian(s) will be required to refund the amount of the scholarship
back to the NPGIA.
- If the Award winner has not been accepted to an accredited educational institution or
announced their college choice to the NPGIA – before September 1 st of the following year – no
scholarship funds will be awarded for that specific year. If there are mitigating circumstances,
the NPGIA Board of Directors may elect to defer payment.
- The Award Winner or their respective parent(s)/guardian(s) will be required to provide evidence
to the NPGIA providing the scholarship award to the intended education institution.
History
The Matt Hayden Award was established in 2003 by the NPGIA in recognition of 2004 New Palestine
High School graduate – Matt Hayden – the inaugural winner. This award was established to be one of
the highest single honors bestowed upon a graduating senior football student athlete, football student
manager, or football student trainer by the NPGIA.
Matt graduated from NPHS in 2004 as an outstanding football, baseball, and wrestling athlete. Despite
his physical limitations, Matt, by his dedication, enthusiasm, and contributions, embodied all that is
GREAT in NPHS Athletics and anything he did with honor.
Meaning / Achievements
The award is based on the characteristics that embody the spirit of Matt Hayden:
- Mental Attitude
- Leadership Abilities
- Perseverance to never give up
The award shall be given to the student athlete, manager, or trainer whose leadership and dedication to
the sport exceeds that of others on the team.
Criteria
All male and female student athletes, managers, and trainers without discrimination of race, age,
disability, or religion participating in NPHS Football in their senior year are eligible to apply. All
participants are evaluated on team leadership ability, individual academic success, community service
and/or NPHS service, and personal achievements through perseverance. All applicants should
demonstrate ambassador-like qualities and honor for the NPHS Football Program.
Note: No relative or member of the Award Selection Committee is eligible to receive this award.
Selection
The NPGIA will form an annual “Matt Hayden Award Selection Committee” consisting of one (1)
member of the Board of Directors, at least one (1) member of the NPHS Coaching Staff, and at least
three (3) current NPGIA Members. Award Candidates will be identified by the Award Selection
Committee and a recommendation for selection will be presented to the Selection Committee. Potential
candidates will be observed during their respective Dragon Football Season.
The designated NPGIA Board Member will chair the Award Selection Committee that will research the
criteria for each Candidate. This detail will be compiled by the Award Selection Committee and
presented to the Selection Board prior to the annually scheduled NPGIA Awards Program.
The Award Selection Committee may request that candidates submit to a personal interview to narrow
the final number of candidates.
The research criteria that must be adhered to by the Award Selection Committee are as follows:
- Candidate(s) must not have a relative/guardian on the Award Selection Committee or the
Selection Board. If an NPGIA Member has a son or daughter that is eligible for the award, that
Board Member must abstain from voting and may not be present during the voting for the
award. They may not participate in the Award Selection Committee.
- Candidate(s) must not have previously won the award (if repeating their senior year).
- Candidate(s) must advise the Award Selection Committee of the accredited educational
institution of their choice for furthering their education.
- If the Candidate has not selected an institution of higher learning prior to the selection
process, then the candidate must declare their intention to attend such an institution.
- Payment of the Award shall only be made to the accredited institution and not directly
to the Recipient of the Award.
- Candidate(s) or their respective parent/guardian must provide either their current cumulative
grade point average (GPA) or their current grading period results.
- The Selection Board will consist of Matt Hayden and the current NPGIA Board of Directors. No
NPGIA Board Member may participate in the voting if their son or daughter is a Candidate for
the Award. This group will review the research detail provided by the Award Selection
Committee and base their vote for an eligible Candidate on the criteria listed above. The
Candidate with the most votes will win the Award/Scholarship. In case of a tie, Matt Hayden (or
his Appointed Representative) will select the winner from the two (2) or three (3) Candidates
with the most votes.
Presentation of the Award
- Matt Hayden (or his Appointed Representative) will present the Award to the winning Candidate
at the annual NPGIA Awards Program.
- The Winner will receive an engraved plaque PLUS a ½” x 2” engraved name plate that will be
presented to the NPHS Athletic Department that adds the winner’s name to the main Matt
Hayden Award Winner’s Plaque located at NPHS.
- Matt Hayden (or his Appointed Representative) will then present a scholarship of up to five
hundred dollars ($500.00) to the accredited educational institution of choice for the current
Award Winner on behalf of the NPGIA. The total amount of the scholarship shall be dependent
on NPGIA participation for that year. (For example: Matt and Lori Hayden may contribute five
hundred dollars ($500.00) and the NPGIA may contribute five hundred dollars ($500.00) for a
total scholarship of one thousand dollars ($1000.00).
- The Award Winner must advise the NPGIA of their accredited educational institution of choice
and then the NPGIA will make the scholarship funds payable to that institution on behalf of the
recipient.
- If the NPGIA Board of Directors determines any misuse of the scholarship funds, the recipient or
their respective parent(s)/guardian(s) will be required to refund the amount of the scholarship
back to the NPGIA.
- If the Award winner has not been accepted to an accredited educational institution or
announced their college choice to the NPGIA – before September 1 st of the following year – no
scholarship funds will be awarded for that specific year. If there are mitigating circumstances,
the NPGIA Board of Directors may elect to defer payment.
- The Award Winner or their respective parent(s)/guardian(s) will be required to provide evidence
to the NPGIA providing the scholarship award to the intended education institution.