Three great athletes -- all with direct ties to Northwest Indiana – from three different eras representing the Big Three universities will have featured roles at a special banquet in Merrillville on May 6 honoring scholar-athletes.

Purdue's Robbie Hummel, Indiana's John Johnson and Notre Dame's Allen Pinkett will attempt to impart wisdom and offer inspiration to 53 high school football standouts as they gather for a banquet “Celebrating Our Stars” at the Avalon Manor in Merrillville. They will be recognized by the National Football Foundation's Northwest Indiana Chapter. Public tickets are now on sale.

Hummel, a Valparaiso High School product of 2007 who just completed a brilliant college basketball career at Purdue by being named the winner of the Lowe's Senior Class Award during the NCAA Final Four in New Orleans, will be honored on May 6 as this year's Drew Brees Mental Toughness Award Winner, becoming the first non-football player to win the chapter award. Hummel battled his way through two ACL surgeries, countless hours of rehab and 20 months away from his sport to bounce back strong this past season. He led the Boilermakers to a 22-13 record and was named first-team All-Big Ten for the third time and honorable mention All-America for the second time. He averaged 16.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game his final year.

Johnson, who starred as an all-state and All-Big Ten lineman at Hobart High School and Indiana University, respectively, in the 1950's and early 60's, played for the Chicago Bears' legendary coach George Hallas from 1963 through '69, including the World Championship year of ‘63. He also had one year with the New York Giants, playing a total of seven NFL seasons before going into private business where he excelled as a human resources specialist, serving eventually as President of the John Joseph Group and John H. Johnson and Associates. He has been inducted into the Chicago Sports Hall of Fame and the Indiana Football Hall of Fame. He will be the keynote speaker at the banquet, which will carry a theme of “Sports As A Way of Life.”

Pinkett, who was a two-time All-America tailback at Notre Dame in 1984 and ‘85, didn't grow up in Northwest Indiana (he's actually from Sterling, Va.), but he lives in the Valparaiso area now and works as a national account manager for a reconstruction company while also serving in the fall as radio commentator for Notre Dame football nation-wide broadcasts. He set several records for the Fighting Irish, including the mark for career touchdowns (53, which still stands) and career rushing (4,131 yards, a record that stood until 1998). Pinkett went on to play seven years in the NFL with the Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints. He will handle the microphone duties as the banquet's emcee.

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• April 29 - Tippy Mud Run, Ross Hills, Tippecanoe County - More Info >
• May 6 - Scholar-Athlete Banquet, Avalon Manor, Merrillville
• June 21 - Ryan Kerrigan 12th Boiler Golf Outing, West Lafayette - More Info >
• June 21 - NFF Honors Dinner, Purdue Memorial Union, West Lafayette