Hightstown’s Quigg, Peddie’s Harris to share stage as DelVal Scholars
Route 539 runs straight through Hightstown and serves as the dividing line for the Peddie School and Hightstown High. On each side of the road, there can be found a standout football player who also excels in the classroom.
They would be Peddie’s David Harris and Hightstown’s Michael Quigg, who are their schools’ honorees at the 57th Annual George Wah ScholarLeader-Athlete Dinner.
The dinner, sponsored by The Delaware Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, is March 10, 4 p.m., at the Princeton Marriott. Players from 22 schools will be honored with $1,000 scholarships, while three special winners will receive the $5,000 Jack Stephan Scholarship, the $2,500 Ron Rick Sr. Scholarship, and the $1,500 Ed Cook Scholarship.
For tickets or ad book information, contact Ron Hoehn at 609-731-6610.
Harris was a four-year varsity letterwinner, playing special teams, wide receiver and defensive back. He earned the team’s Howard Clark Football Award for loyalty, hard work and citizenship. Davis is also a fouryear letterwinner in lacrosse as a starting long stick midfielder.
“There are many superlatives that one could use to describe David, but no matter how much praise we heap; none of it would be doing him any justice,” Falcons coach Chris Malleo said. “In my four years of coaching David I have learned the value of one infallible truth: attitude trumps all else.
“David’s attitude and workmanlike approach to both his academics and athletics is inspiring. Each day he sought greatness comparative to his own measure of his success, not the throng of applause. Never the most decorated player, he was always one of the most respected. His penchant for jumping into any drill or volunteering to be on scout team was and still is the type of selfless example that would inspire our team.”
He was just as inspiring off the field, particularly with his voice. Harris has sung in the Peddie choir for four years and is a member of the all-male group and select group. He has had parts in four school shows and this year holds the role of Perchik in Fiddler on the Roof. His grade point average is over 3.75 and he’s a member of the Gold Key Society — the highest society at Peddie recommended by teachers and chosen by students.
“David is a remarkable young man who embodies not only athletic dedication, commitment and sportsmanship, but what I call entrepreneurial citizenship,” Peddie Headmaster Peter Quinn said. “David enjoys contributing wherever he can to make whatever enterprise he is part of, better.
“David’s father is a longtime teacher here, and the campus has been his home for many years. Yet, when he became a student he adopted an entirely new attitude towards his role. He began looking for ways to make the school better. He did not try to assure others that the school he knew well was perfect. He did not coast on his father’s positive and prominent reputation. He sought to exert energy, earn success and engage others in this entrepreneurial citizenship.
David’s attitude is always positive, sincere, and yet has a touch of light-heartedness in it.
Few players ran with the hard-nosed, reckless abandon of Quigg, and the awards bear that out. Quigg was a three-year starter and twoyear captain, earning the team’s Most Valuable Player award two straight years as a running back and linebacker. He was a three-time All-Conference pick (twice at first-team) and two-time first-team All-Area pick on both sides of the ball. Also a lacrosse standout, Quigg will play that sport at Monmouth University next year.
“In my 13 years of coaching at the collegiate and high school levels, Michael stands out in his combination of ability and work ethic,” Rams coach Ryan Fullen said. “It is rare to have your best player be your hardest worker and we were very lucky in the fact that Michael bucked this trend.
“Michael not only performed at an elite level in games all year, but also on the practice field, in the weight room and most importantly, the classroom. But Michael’s most redeeming quality is not his athletic or academic prowess, but the fact he is just a genuinely good person.”
Quigg owns a cumulative GPA of 4.07, is a member of the National Honor Society, was named US Lacrosse Academic All-American last year and is a member of Hightstown’s DECA, Math League and Ski Club. He volunteers for RISE, a community organization assisting local families and individuals in recovering from setbacks.
“I found Michael to be a hardworking, results-oriented student,” said Hightstown Business Education Teacher George Wolkiewicz. “He takes pride in his performance and is able to take the time to assist other students with their assignments. This ‘total student’ attitude is a quality that has had a positive impact on his overall success at school.
“Michael is an intelligent young man who works very hard. He never gives up on a task or assignment and ensures that his goals are met. He takes pride in the fact that he can set goals and objectives and follows through on his plans.”