2011 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society (PDF)

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Bridgewater State University senior offensive lineman Chris Grande has been selected to the National Football Foundation (NFF) 2011 Hampshire Honor Society.

Grande, who hails from New Bedford, Massachusetts, is one of 671 student-athletes from 241 schools who qualified for induction into Hampshire Honor Society. To be nominated, student-athletes must have been a starter or significant contributor in their final season of eligibility while achieving at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average and meeting all NCAA-mandated progress towards degree requirements and graduation.

"In just the fifth year of this initiative, it gives the NFF great pride to honor so many qualified and accomplished collegiate players as members of this year's Hampshire Honor Society," NFF President and CEO Steve Hatchell said. "The number of players we are able to recognize has nearly doubled since the first year of the program, showing that you can play football at the highest level and still be a standout student."

"We have honored nearly 3,000 of our nation's best and brightest college players over the past five years," NFF Chairman Archie Manning said. "This program truly shows the power of football in building tomorrow's leaders."

A four-year member of the BSU football team, Grande started all 20 games at center for the Bears over the past two seasons.  During that period, Bridgewater accumulated 6,383 yards of total offense including 4,735 yards on the ground.

Since 2007, the Bridgewater State football team has posted an overall record of 25-15 including back-to-back 7-3 seasons in 2008 and 2009.

A three-year member of the New England Football Conference (NEFC) All-Academic Team, Grande is currently sporting a 3.2 grade point average.  He will be serving as a student-assistant on the football coaching staff in the fall and plans on graduating from BSU with a Bachelors of Arts degree in History in the spring of 2012.