Cleveland Touchdown Club Charities Announces 2025 Memorial Scholarship Recipients


Chloe Collazo

 

Ishmeal Jackson

 

Cameron Katz

 

Walter Knoop

 

Adeline Thornton

CLEVELAND – Chloe Collazo, Ishmeal Jackson, Camryn Katz, Walter Knoop and Adeline Thornton have been named 2025 Cleveland Touchdown Club Charities (CTCC) Memorial Scholarship recipients, the organization announced on July 11 at its annual Gene Hickerson Memorial Golf Outing.

CTCC Memorial Scholarships are awarded annually to graduating Northeast Ohio high school seniors who excel in the classroom, in the community and possess a strong ambition to succeed in college. Each individual will receive a $1,000 scholarship to use at an accredited college or university of their choice during the 2025-26 academic year.

Collazo is a 2025 graduate of Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School (Broadview Heights, Ohio) with a 4.34 GPA. She is the third-ever recipient of the Gene Hickerson Memorial Scholarship, a special scholarship in 2025 to honor Gene Hickerson. She has supported both football and basketball as a cheerleader since middle school and has been an avid supporter of the Cleveland ALS Walk for the past four years. She will be attending Ohio University in the fall and will be studying early childhood education.

This year’s recipient of the John Peyton Memorial Scholarship, Jackson graduated from Harvey High School in Painesville, Ohio. His story is one of perseverance, having lost his mother during a difficult start to his high school career. He graduated with a 2.41 GPA thanks to a strong finish, participated in the Harvey Honors Choir and was a captain of the Red Raider Football team. He is also an active member in the community, volunteering with Union Community Church. He will attend Cleveland State University to pursue a career in nursing.

A graduate of Orange High School in Pepper Pike, Ohio, Katz is the 2025 recipient of the Morrie Kono Memorial Scholarship. She graduated with a 4.15 GPA while serving as an athletic trainer assistant with the OHS football team. When not treating OHS athletes, she is an extremely active member of the Pepper Pike community, volunteering with Stagecrafters, OCER volleyball clinics, OCER/OIP preschool camps, among others. She plans to study child development at Nova Southeastern University.

Knoop is the 2025 recipient of the Dick Zunt Memorial Scholarship and is a 2025 graduate of Kirtland High School in Willoughby, Ohio, with a 3.87 GPA. He served as a sports reporter for KHS’ morning announcement show and as a section leader for the KHS marching band. Outside of school, we attained the rank of Eagle Scout, affording him numerous opportunities to support the local community. He will attend Ohio University where he plans to study environmental science.

Thornton, the 2025 Billy Williams Memorial Scholarship recipient, is a graduate of Riverside High School (Painesville, Ohio) with a 3.98 GPA. She was a member of the Riverside Regiment marching band and was a College Credit Plus student at Lakeland Community College where she recently received an Associate of Arts degree. She aspires to attain a bachelor’s degree in mortuary science from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and work in the funeral industry where she can help grieving families. 

This year’s scholarships are presented in honor of five gentlemen who have a rich history in Northeast Ohio football – Gene Hickerson, Morrie Kono, John Peyton, Billy Reynolds and Dick Zunt. More information on all five individuals can be found on the Cleveland Touchdown Club Charities website.