Joining Casey Nickels (from left to right) are Tommy Nobis with the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation; George Morris, president of the Greater Atlanta Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame; Justin Gallagher of Gallagher Electric and Engineering Company; and Walter Wade, vice president of the Georgia High School Association. W-W Tiger Casey Nickels was among the top 40 high school scholar athletes from the state of Georgia as recognized by The College Football Hall of Fame at the Texaco Havoline Scholarship Luncheon and Chalk Talk held Thursday, December 29, 2005.

Recipients of the College Football Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete Award, each of whom was selected for his exceptional record in academics, athletics, and civic leadership, also received a $1,000 scholarship for his college education.

Nickels is a W-WCHS senior who was recently selected for first team All-State, All-Area, and All-NE Georgia honors for his outstanding play and leadership on the Tiger football team. He is also defending state champion for his weight class in wrestling but is sidelined this year while he recovers from shoulder surgery. He plans to attend the University of Georgia in the fall where he will be a preferred walk-on for the UGA Bulldogs.

Academically, Nickels is at or near the top of his class and is planning to seek a medical career as an orthopedic surgeon. He is the son of Troy and Becki Nickels of Washington.

George Morris, president of the Greater Atlanta Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, presented the scholar-athletes with their awards in a ceremony at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown Atlanta. Award winners then enjoyed the luncheon portion of the event and were acknowledged during the Chick-filA Peach Bowl “Chalk Talk,” with both bowl teams, LSU and Miami, in attendance.

“This is another outstanding group of scholar-athletes from throughout the state of Georgia,” Morris said. “We are proud to add this select company, which includes student managers for the first time, to our previous winners of the last 10 years.

“We have been fortunate to provide nearly $500,000 in scholarships over the years, and we could not do this without the support of Texaco Havoline, the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation, and the Gallagher Electric and Engineering Company. We also thank the Georgia High School Association.”