For the first time since 2019, the Pop Warner Little Scholars’ annual celebration of our academic all-stars returned to an in-person stage on March 21, bringing together student-athletes and their families for a national celebration that marked both a milestone and a renewed sense of connection.
Held at the Schaumburg Convention Center outside Chicago, the annual All-American Scholar Banquet welcomed approximately 300 students and their families, representing the nearly 5,000 student-athletes across the country who earned Pop Warner All-American Scholar status for the 2025–26 academic year with GPAs of 96% or higher.
“It’s about more than sports,” Pop Warner CEO Steve Strawbridge said. “It’s about shaping the next generation of leaders.”
That message defined the evening, which blended academic recognition with tributes to leadership, service and the broader impact of youth sports. Pop Warner and its partners this year awarded nearly $200,000 in scholarships.
The night was also marked with a tribute to the men and women who are the true lifeblood of the organization. The Pop Warner Hall of Fame inducted its first class with 15 volunteers who each spent at least 30 years in service to Pop Warner. The program added a layer of historical weight to the night, recognizing individuals who built the foundation long before the athletes in attendance ever took the field.
At the center of the evening was Pro Football Hall of Famer Andre Reed, whose keynote address tied together the past and present of the Pop Warner experience.
Rather than focus on his NFL career, Reed reflected on the earliest stages of his journey, when football was less about accolades and more about routine, discipline and learning how to grow.
“I played, I slept, I ate, I drank football,” said Reed, describing the commitment that began in his Pop Warner days in Allentown, PA.
Reed, who spent 16 seasons with the Buffalo Bills, emphasized that his success was shaped long before he reached the professional level. The lessons of accountability, preparation and perseverance learned as a young athlete remained central throughout his career.
“If you’re in a position to do something for somebody, take advantage of it… it only comes around maybe once or twice in your life,” he said.
That personal sense of responsibility was reflected in the recognition of another member of the Buffalo Bills. Offensive tackle Dion Dawkins was honored as the 2026 Pop Warner Humanitarian Award recipient.
A four-time Pro Bowl selection and the team’s 2025 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee, Dawkins has become known as much for his community impact as his play on the field. Through his foundation, Dion’s Dreamers, he supports youth and families in underserved communities across Buffalo and Western New York.
His message to the audience, however, focused on the lessons learned early in his own development.
“What Pop Warner taught me… is you have to learn how to fight,” Dawkins said, referring to the internal resilience required to push through challenges. “You have to learn how to make decisions. You have to learn how to live with discipline.”
Dawkins shared that his path included setbacks, including stepping away from the game as a young player before understanding the importance of commitment, not just to himself, but to his teammates.
“I’m an offensive lineman and to be able to show your personality and have an impact is a beautiful thing,” he said.
Beyond football, the evening highlighted achievement across disciplines.
Dr. Wendy Brown, a biomedical engineering researcher at the University of California, Irvine, received the 2026 Pop Warner Trailblazer Award for her work in tissue engineering and cartilage research, including studies connected to the International Space Station. A former NFL and NBA cheerleader, Brown spoke about embracing multiple passions and the value of skills developed through youth sports.
“I once felt like I had to choose between my love of cheer and dance and my passion for science,” she said. “This award reminds me that you don’t have to choose. These experiences are preparing you to succeed in whatever path you choose.”
Jalon Daniels, a four-time team captain and quarterback at the University of Kansas, was honored with the Pop Warner College Football Award after a standout career that included 90 total touchdowns and nearly 11,000 all-purpose yards. Daniels also founded the Mom 2 J6 Foundation, which supports single mothers and student-athletes.
“You can’t get ‘student-athlete’ without ‘student,’” Daniels said, emphasizing the role academics play in long-term success. “Championships will fade at some point, but one thing that will never fade is your knowledge.”
The Chicago Bears, represented by team owner and Chairman George McCaskey, were named the 2026 Pop Warner NFL Team of the Year, recognized for their sustained investment in youth football development, community outreach and efforts to expand access to the game, including initiatives supporting girls flag football.
Together, the honorees reflected Pop Warner’s longstanding mission: developing young people not only as athletes, but as students, leaders and contributors to their communities.
For many in attendance, though, the significance of the night extended beyond the awards themselves.
The return to an in-person banquet after several years without one restored a sense of shared experience that had been missing. Families gathered, students were recognized on a national stage, and a new generation connected directly with the legacy that preceded them.
With the introduction of the Hall of Fame and the recognition of thousands of scholars nationwide, the event reinforced both where Pop Warner has been and where it is going.
Best,
Steve Strawbridge
President & CEO
Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc.