February 19, 2020

Sam Barus (BHS ’20) Wins Chicago Bears Community Champion Award

Batavia Public School District 101 is proud to announce that in a ceremony on February 17, 2020, at Hallas Hall, Batavia High School Senior, Sam Barus was presented with the Chicago Bears Community Champion Award by Gustavo Silva, Chicago Bears Manager of Youth Football & Community Programs. The Master of Ceremonies was Jeff Joniak, the voice of the Chicago Bears. This is a great honor!

Each year the National Football Foundation, Chicago Metro Chapter, at their annual “Building Leaders Through Football” awards ceremony present area students and with awards that link athletics, academics, and giving back. This year, only two local athletes were presented with Community Champion Awards; Sam Barus of Batavia, and Ben Avila of Bremen. An additional award was presented to North Central College honoring their 2019 Division III National Championship.

The Chicago Bears Community Champion Awards were presented to high school senior football players that have demonstrated excellence in their community and volunteer endeavors. Here is some information on Batavia’s Sam Barus, as listed in the event program:

SAM BARUS

Batavia High School

Nominated by Head Coach Dennis Piron…Safety, Kicker, Kickoff Returner….plans to major in Computer Engineering and Computer Science….will play football at Bucknell University….Team Captain….4.35 GPA….30 ACT….All-Conference First Team 2019 and 2018….All-Area First Team 2019 and 2018….IHSFCA All-State Honorable Mention….led team in tackles 2019 and 2018, interceptions and average kickoff return….2017 State Champions, 2018 Conference Champions and State Semifinalist, 2019 Conference Champions….Baseball team….All-State and All-Conference Academic Teams 2019 and 2018….National Honor Society, National Society of High School Scholars, National Spanish Honor Society….Key Club….peer tutor in Math….Batavia Park District youth football and baseball camps volunteer, coached youth flag football….Bulldog Moving Company volunteer serving needy families with relocation…Batavia Access Toy Drive volunteer….Church mission trips (several weeklong mission trips) and volunteer outreach….homeless shelter volunteer at Hesed House and Lazarus House and at Mutual Ground home for women and children escaping abuse….volunteers at Feed My Starving Children, Northern Illinois Foodbank and Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry….Batavia High School LINK Crew volunteer upperclassman leader and mentor program….Student Athletic Advisory Board serving as football team’s liaison to Athletic Director…fundraising activities for Batavia Boosters, Rotary and Salvation Army

In his letter of support for the nomination, Defensive Coordinator Matthew Holm said, “Working closely with him has allowed me to develop a personal relationship that transcends the everyday coach-athlete bond. He is a tremendous young man. He demonstrates all of the qualities that a proud organization desires: integrity, responsibility, kindness, and selflessness.”

BPS101 is proud of Sam and wishes him great success as he continues his football career and education at Bucknell University.

For more information visit:  https://footballfoundation.org/