Northwestern Wildcats’ senior offensive lineman Patrick Ward has been chosen as a finalist for the National Football Foundation’s National Scholar-Athlete Award. It was announced by the foundation Oct. 24.

Ward and the other 14 finalists will be honored at the NFF’s Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 4 in New York City, receive an $18,000 post-graduation scholarship and the winner of the William V. Campbell Trophy will be announced.

“It’s a real humbling honor and a great feeling to be recognized with such an outstanding group of student-athletes,” Ward said, following practice Oct. 24.

Ward wants to go into the Aerospace industry, after his football career is all said and done. He said the teamwork and problem solving aspects of football would help him when that day comes.

“I’ve already seen it in some job interviews,” Ward said. “Engineering firms are [look for those qualities in their] employees because a lot of the things that they are working on are team based also.”

The Wildcats’ offensive lineman has a 3.9 grade point average and has helped Northwestern have the third best rushing attack in the Big Ten.