Greenville, SC: The South Carolina Football Hall of Fame (SCFHOF) is pleased to announce that the nomination period for the 2026 Bridge Builder Excellence Award (BBEA) is now open. This prestigious award recognizes high school football student-athletes who excel on the field, in the classroom, and within their communities.
Award Criteria:
• Football Excellence: 40%
• Academic Excellence: Minimum 3.2 Core GPA - 30%
• Exemplary School, Character, Community Citizenship, Evidence through non-profit service and Leadership: 30%
The BBEA was established in 2020 to celebrate and encourage excellence among high school football student-athletes from the 2019-2020 academic year. Over the past six award cycles, the SCFHOF has received 362 nominations from 138 South Carolina high schools.
Nominees for this cycle will be honored and recognized on #BBEA26Day with a special certificate ceremony and program on May 8, 2026. Three finalists and a winner will be recognized at the SCFHOF’s 13th Annual Enshrinement Ceremony at the Hotel Hartness on April 16, 2025.
In April 2025, Irmo High School’s Donovan Murph was honored as the 6th BBEA winner for his outstanding achievements as a football student athlete during the 2024-2025 academic year; he is currently a freshman wide receiver at the University of South Carolina.
Please nominate an outstanding high school football leader by completing the 2026 Bridge Builder Excellence Award Form by February 16, 2026.
