Marian Central Catholic Senior Selected As Bears Community All-Star

WOODSTOCK, IL — A Marian Central Catholic senior’s passion for making a difference in his community has not only been recognized by those his work has impacted, but also by the Chicago Bears, who are recognizing Chicago-area student-athletes for their efforts off the field.

Hunter Birkhoff was selected as the Bears’ fourth Community High School All-Star on Wednesday. The Bears will select nine high school students from around the greater Chicago area for the initiative, which honors students’ commitment to efforts in their communities.

Each Community High School All-Star award recipient will receive a custom hand-painted football, gift bag and an invitation to a future Bears event, the team said. The Bears will also make a $500 donation to the charitable organization of the player’s choosing.

Birkhoff was selected for the honor for his volunteer work at his church, where he helps out at a local food pantry to provide food boxes for area families that are in need. Birkhoff also volunteered at Feed My Starving Children and Vacation Bible School camp every summer, Bears said in a news release. He also spent a week in Philadelphia last summer as part of The Philadelphia Project, a transformative service opportunity with local churches to help the most vulnerable neighborhood in Northwest Philadelphia.

The Marian Central two-sport athlete also devotes his time to his school, serving as leader on his football and wrestling team, a member of the campus ministry team and co-head of the school's theater department, the Bears said. He also serves as a mentor to help incoming freshmen with their transition into high school.

Birkhoff has maintained an excellent academic record in addition to his community and school service efforts. He has earned a place on the honor roll every semester and has received multiple awards, including four discipleship awards, academic excellence recognition and the Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarship Award. The DAR scholarship is awarded to senior students who exhibit dependability, service, leadership and patriotism in their homes, schools and communities.

“He’s a well-rounded student-athlete,” Marian Central football coach Liam Kirwan said in the release. “There isn't another student-athlete that I can think of that would be more deserving of this award than Hunter Birkhoff. We are incredibly proud of Hunter, and we feel blessed to have him as a member of this school and football program."