Article courtesy of Sean Gothier, Minnesota Chapter – National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame
St. Paul, Minn. – The Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame honored outstanding individuals from the world of professional and amateur football in Minnesota at the Chapter’s annual awards dinner on Sunday, April 22. The Fifth Annual “Honoring Legends, Inspiring Leaders” awards dinner, which was held at the University of St. Thomas, featured a keynote address by former University of Minnesota Golden Gopher defensive lineman Bobby Bell. Among the list of award winners was senior safety Brad Kruckeberg (Ellendale, Minn.).
The 2012 Bob Stein College Scholar Athlete Award was presented to Brad Kruckeberg. Kruckeberg truly emobodies what it means to be a student athlete. A standout on the field, Kruckeberg did not choose to go lightly in the classroom. Instead, he will receive a degree in pre-med biology with a minor in management from Gustavus Adolphus College. Kruckeberg’s dedication to the classroom has even led him to become a biology department tutor in his spare time. While competing every season on the football squad, “Kruck” maintained a 3.88 GPA.
A four-year letterman on the football team, Kruckeberg is one of the team’s undisputed leaders. A safety, the 5’11” native of Ellendale, Minnesota captained his team beginning in the fall of 2011. By the time his football career at Gustavus ended, he ranked 5th all-time in interceptions. In 2010, he was named to the All-MIAC 2nd team, as well as the D3Football.com All-West Region Third Team. In 2011, Kruckeberg was named to the All-MIAC 2nd Team once again and appeared in the Division III Senior Classic in Salem, Virgina. He was also named to the 2011 All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team, a testament to his commitment to playing the game right.
However, what has truly set Brad apart from his peers are his academic achievements. Kruckeberg was named to the NCAA Academic All-America first team this past season, and was also awarded an NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship. He was also a member of the 2011 MIAC All-Sportsmanship Team. Kruckeberg’s studies as a biology major saw him excel in a rigorous program while continually performing on the field. In fact, Brad received top academic honors on his Gustavus squad for the past two seasons.
Kruckeberg’s other activities seem nearly endless. He volunteers his time with Special Olympics Minnesota, the St. Peter Food Shelf, Relay For Life, and the Mayo Clinic Health System. He is also a member of the Tao Psi Omega fraternity (REDS) and the co-president of the Inter-Greek Senate. Kruckeberg’s next step will be applying for medical school, during which time he will he continue to donate his time and travel.
Gustavus Adolphus Head Football Coach Peter Haugen stated, “Brad makes those around him better and the respect that he has from our players and staff I rank at the top of all student athletes I have worked with in the past 18 years as head coach.” He continues, “He is driven to be his best each day and so focused on how the work that he is doing today will provide the foundation for his success as he pursues medical school.”