For Mahwah High School student Andrew D’Angelo, a discus is not just a heavy disc used at track and field competitions. The senior has been named one of the national ‘Discus Award’ winners, a recognition that gets him a college scholarship.

According to the award committee, Andrew, and other award winners across the country, were chosen not only for academic accomplishments, but for being “hungry for a different kind of success.” The awards look at ten considerations when choosing winners – academics, arts, athletics, community service, faith, government, green, technology, and other accomplishments.

For Andrew, soccer is his passion.

“I like soccer because it’s a thinking game,” the Mahwah goalkeeper said. “You need to predetermine what you’re going to do.” Andrew has been planning out his soccer moves since he was three years old. This past season, his last as a Thunderbird, he was team captain and helped bring the team to the second round of the state tournament. “It was one of our best seasons since freshman year,” he said.

Andrew also plays for the Mahwah Raiders, and has played in the New Jersey PASCO Soccer Club.

“I definitely want to play in college,” he said. “I know that it’s going to be more physically demanding, but mentality-wise, I think I’m there."

Where exactly he will be next season is still a decision that needs to be made. According to D’Angelo, he’s being scouted by NYU, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Goucher College in Maryland.“Wherever I choose to go, I will probably be headed there in July. Training starts about a month before school does.”

Though he hopes to be a starter on the field for all four years of college, Andrew says he may not continue his sports career after that. “I am going to go into a pre-dental program,” he said. “There is a need for dentists in New Jersey, so I should be able to get a job after school. Plus, I’ve always been good in math and science."

For now, while deciding his future moves, Andrew says he will continue working at the Edist Warehouse in Mahwah, as a “warehouse engineer,” helping his younger brother with his Mahwah soccer career, and “just enjoying the rest of the senior year festivities.”

For more information on the Discus Awards and scholarships, which are awarded by Campus Direct and Recognition Media, visit this website.