Art Andrey Scholarship
The Art Andrey Scholarship is given to a local high school football player who demonstrates both financial need and the personal qualities that Art exhibited for over 4 decades as a high school football official in the Norristown Chapter of Football Officials (NCFO). Scholarship candidates are nominated by chapter members and coaches.
About Art Andrey
Art Andrey would best be recalled by his family and friends as “Toot” or “Tutti”. A member of the Conshohocken Hall of Fame, Art was a central figure in the Conshohocken Little League scene for many years. As a coach, Art’s style was a model for young coaches to follow. He never got upset with a player, umpire, parents or other coaches. His calmness resonated among players and teams which also carried over to his true passion of wearing a striped shirt.
Dedicated to the High School Athletics as a member of the PIAA Football, Basketball and Softball Chapters for over 40 years, Art served as chapter Secretary in Basketball for many years. Art’s leadership and “friendship to all” was an essential part of the success of the NCFO. Art was always welcoming to new chapter members and helped ensure new members had games and the opportunity to work.
Art officiated State Championship games and worked the Big 33 Game at Hersheypark Stadium.
Art Andrey Scholarship Recipients
2009 – Cole Parkinson, St Pius High School
2010 –
2011 – John Cherneski, Pope John Paul II High School
2012 – Dylan Wesley, Upper Perkiomen High School
2013 – Mike Cassidy, Methacton High School
2014 – Kolten Hainsey, Owen J Roberts High School
2015 – Dylan Feaster, Methacton High School
2016 – Ryan O’Toole, Methacton High School
2017 – Tom Doyle, Pottstown High School
2018 – Travis Panella, Phoenixville High School
2019 – Cooper Chamberlain, Owen J Roberts High School
2020 – No Award
2021 – Jahiem Vinson, Perkiomen Valley High School
2022 – Sahbri Hill, Methacton High School
2023 – Jake Stewart, Perkiomen Valley High School
Dave Speelhoffer Award
The Dave Speelhoffer Award is the chapter’s rookie of year award. The award is given to young, promising official with two years experience or more, or they just broke into varsity.
About Dave Speelhoffer
Dave Speelhoffer is a current member of the NCFO and has been active since 1976. Dave has demonstrated outstanding effort in the education of newer chapter members for many years. Mentor, friend, observer, rules and mechanics expert, Dave excelled on the field for many years, and officiated numerous PIAA District and State level playoff games, including the AAA State Championship Game in 1994. In addition, Dave had the honor of working the first PIAA football playoff game in 1988.
Dave has always been skilled in communicating with coaches and fellow officials in a positive way. His commitment to helping his peers become better at their craft has been truly extraordinary.
More recently, you may see Dave on an assigned chain crew on a Friday night; or possibly in either a formal or informal role as an observer at a Friday night game. He continues his contributions to NFOA, the PIAA and District 1.
We honor Dave with the naming of our “Rookie of the Year” award each year at our annual banquet.
Dave Spielhoffer Award Recipients
2006 – Scott Moran
2007 – Joel Barrish
2008 –
2009 – Tim Kusniez
2010 – Avinash Raghupathy
2011 – Chris Deroba
2012 – Andrew D’Addona
2013 – Jim Hershey
2014 – Dan Falcone
2015 – Jason Cook
2016 – William Pergine
2017 – Justin Anderson
2018 – No Award
2019 – Nathan Fuffenfinger
2020 – No Award
2021 – Rocco Cione
2022 – Noah Shine
2023 – Tim Bradburry
The Nick Pergine Senior Award
The Nick Pergine Senior Award is voted on by the members of the chapter and has been honoring officials annually since 2009. To qualify for the award a veteran official or individual associated with the sport of football must meet the following criteria:
- Serves as a mentor to other officials or those involved in the sport of football;
- Shows dedication to the sport of football and football officiating;
- Demonstrates leadership qualities on and off the field; and
- Promotes the continuing education of football officials and the sport of football.
About Nick Pergine Sr.
The Nick Pergine Senior Award was created in his memory and has been awarded annually since his passing in 2009 from cancer. The award was created to carry on Nick’s legacy, his passion for football and officiating, and his dedication to mentoring officials and developing officiating techniques.
Born in Conshohocken, Nick was a U.S Army Veteran, semi pro football player, and a career PIAA football official. He officiated the first PIAA playoff game in 1988 and officiated the Big 33 game between the best players in Pennsylvania and the best players in Ohio. Nick served as the assignor of the PAC 10 Conference from 2000 to 2008 and was able to give back to the sport by using his experience to develop officials of all levels throughout the conference. Nick loved watching football and instructing others in officiating techniques and was committed to enhancing the game through quality officiating.
One of the most unique personalities the Norristown Chapter of Football Officials has ever seen, Nick always told you the way he saw it. Direct with players, coaches and officials alike, Nick demonstrated a passion, intensity and devotion to the game that resonated with everyone he interacted with. Nick served as President of the NCFO, invested in the officials and was always willing to help chapter members advance their careers. He was especially knowledgeable about working “in the trenches” or in the umpire position. Nick was a loyal ambassador for the chapter and contributor to the game of football.
Nick Pergine Senior Award Recipients
2009 – Jack Bozarth
2010 – Mickey McDaniels, Spring-Ford High School Athletic Director
2011 – Larry Solar
2012 – Paul Gaffney, Sports Medicine
2013 – Don Seeley, Sports Writer
2014 – Tom Drakeford
2015 – Ed Denzi
2016 – Dave Speelhoffer
2017 – Ricky Falcone
2018 – Rick Pennypacker, Pottsgrove High School, Coach
2019 – Bill Stephens
2020 – No Award
2021 – Thomas Brady
2022 – Mark Lockett
2023 – No Award
Norristown Chapter of Football Officials Sportsmanship Award
Nominated by chapter members, the NCFO Sportsmanship Award is awarded to a PAC 10 player that demonstrates sportsmanship and fair play.
NCFO Sportsmanship Award Recipients
2007 – Ronnie Tribble, Plymouth Whitemarsh High School
2008 – Anthony Nattle, Phoenixville High School
2009 – Christopher Beall, Wissahickon High School and Ryan Brumfield, Owen J Roberts High School
2010 – Casey Perlstein, Upper Perkiomen High School
2011 – David Low, Methacton High School and Andrew Derr, Upper Dublin High School
2012 – Ryan Panella, Phoenixville High School
2013 – No Award
2014 – Ron Arch, Perkiomen Valley High School
2015 – Jason Eckman, Methacton High School
2016 – Dan Cirino, Pope John Paul II High School
2017 – Jahir Holmes, Perkiomen Valley High School
2018 – Dylan Robertson, Boyertown High School
2019 – Kyle Kennedy, Spring-Ford High School
2020 – No Award
2021 – Ethan Kohler, Perkiomen Valley High School
2022 – Tyjon Giddens, Norristown High School
2023 – Dillon Mayes, Pottstown High School
Silver Whistle Award
The Silver Whistle Award is voted on by chapter members and is given to the school that is deemed the best host of officials. Officials consider actions from the time they arrive at a school, to the time they leave, facilities, hospitality, coaches conduct, etc.
Silver Whistle Award Recipients
2008 – Upper Perkiomen High School
2009 – Spring-Ford High School
2010 – Spring-Ford High School
2011 – Pottsgrove High School
2012 – Spring-Ford High School
2013 – Perkiomen Valley High School
2014 – Spring-Ford High School
2015 – Phoenixville High School
2016 – Phoenixville High School
2017 – Phoenixville High School
2018 – Phoenixville High School
2019 – Phoenixville High School
2020 – No Award
2021 – Spring-Ford High School
2022 – Spring-Ford High School
2023 – Spring-Ford High School
Walter Gould Award
The Walter Gould Award is given to a person that volunteers to help athletes student athletes participating in football. To honor Mr. Gould, the chapter will seek a person who is enthusiastic towards others and demonstrates a passion to “serve”. His or her actions should help make a difference in the football community.
About Walter Gould
Walter K. Gould was a PIAA official in football, basketball, and baseball for 15 years before passing away on May 31, 1981. He officiated because of his love for sports and children, which showed by the number of countless games he officiated.
Aside from officiating he was involved with youth sports in Phoenixville. He served on the board of directors of Phoenixville Marian Youth Club (PMYC), which still exists today, involving children playing football in the fall and basketball in the winter and was president of the Phoenixville Little League for 8 years.
During his time as an official he was a president of the Pottstown Basketball Officials Chapter. At the time of his passing he was the secretary of the Schuylkill Valley Chapter of Baseball Umpires, and that fall would have been president of the NCFO. As an official he officiated every level of the sport from youth leagues to varsity.
Walter Gould Award Recipients
2011 – Gert Dawson, Barb Caffery, Jane Vegso, PMYC Snack Ladies
2012 – Sydney McGill, Ball Girl
2013 – Jordan Giraldi, Team Manager, Spring-Ford High School
2014 – Pauline Waltman, Volunteer, Phoenixville Marian Youth Club
2015 – Steve Panella, Official, Norristown Football Officials
2016 – Tessa Nathan, Coventry Wildcats, ICFL
2017 – Johannes “Johnny” Herren, Methacton High School
2018 – Steve Watson, Phuture Fantoms Football
2019 – Krista Gilmore, Pottstown PAL
2020 – No Award
2021 – Joseph Palaia
2022 –
2023 – Cherish McLaughlin, Team Manager, Spring-Ford High School