APRIL 12, 2017

KING'S MIKE PALMER NAMED TO NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION HAMPSHIRE HONOR SOCIETY

WILKES-BARRE — King's College football standout Mike Palmer (Philadelphia/Archbishop Ryan) played a key role in the on-field success of the Monarchs the past two season.   Now, Palmer has been recognized for his work as both a student and athlete.  Palmer has been named to the 2017 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society.

Palmer owns a 3.259 grade-point average as a Mass Communications major at King's.  He was a two-time All-Middle Atlantic Conference selection at wide receiver for the Monarchs and led the team in receptions each of the last two seasons.

Palmer, who missed his freshman year with a torn ACL, came back as a sophomore and played on the Monarch junior varsity squad while attempting to regain his form.  He enjoyed a breakout year as a junior when he registered 54 catches for 631 yards and six touchdowns. He was equally effective as a senior team captain, posting a team-high 54 receptions for 586 yards and six scores.

Off the field, Palmer has participated in King's "Take Back the Night" march to denounce violence to wards women and sexual assault, while also participating in City SERVE. He is also a member of the Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society recognized by the National Communication Association. He was a two-time MAC Academic Honor Roll selection.

The Hampshire Honor Society represents an important component in the organization's rich history as an innovator in promoting the scholar-athlete ideal, which began in 1959 with the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards.

Palmer joins a growing list of KIng's football players inducted into the Hampshire Honor Society in recent years.  Since 2012, eight King's girders have been inducted, including Palmer, Tom Hehre and Chris Boyle (2016); Dan Kempa, Tyler Hartranft, and Kris Matthews (2015); Ryan Cordingly (2013); and Jordan Haddock (2012).

"Mike has been a great role model with his dedication and perseverance and is very deserving of this award," said King's Director of Sports Information Bob Ziadie, who nominated Palmer for the award.  "He joins a great list of recent King's honorees and we are proud of what he has accomplished, Hard work pays off and Mike is certainly proof of that."