University of Wisconsin-Whitewater freshman Shawn Shillcox (Two Rivers/Two Rivers) has been named a finalist for the National Football Foundation 2012 High School National Scholar-Athlete Awards. 
 
The NFF selection process, which begins with local chapters, recognized more than 3,300 high school student-athletes for their excellence on the field, in the classroom, and in the community during their high school career.   That group was winnowed to the top performers in each of the NFF's five regions.  Shillcox is one of five from the NFF's Midwest Region to advance to the final selection, which will be announced in October.  The top pick from each region will travel to New York City for the NFF awards banquet at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel December 4. 
 
The NFF High School National Scholar-Athlete Awards were initiated in 1991.  NFF chapters, which number 120 in 47 states, provide over one million dollars in scholarships each year. 
 
Shillcox earned all-conference honors as two way performer for Two Rivers (WI) High School.  He was all-league at both quarterback and linebacker in his senior year, also earning all-state recognition on defense.  He was chosen to play for the North squad in the 2012 Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-Star Game.  Shillcox was active in Future Business Leaders of America, qualifying for state competition, as well as participating in the mock accident team and Octagon Club (service organization) at Two Rivers High. 
 
The other Midwest Region finalists are Luke Duffy, Saint Edward Catholic High in Elgin, Illinois, now at Washington University in Saint Louis; Jesse Hiss, Basehor-Linwood HS in Basehor, Kansas, now at the University of Colorado; Dayton Snyder of West Lafayette HS in West Lafayette, Indiana, now at Case Western Reserve; and Patrick Towles from Highlands High School in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, now attending the University of Kentucky.
 
Shillcox, a general business major at UW-Whitewater, is playing defensive back for the Warhawks.  UW-W is the three-time defending NCAA Division III national champion.  Shillcox and the Warhawks will host Buffalo State College Saturday, September 15 at 1:00 in Perkins Stadium on the UW-W campus.