Chicago Bears Name Plainfield Student High School All-Star

PLAINFIELD, IL — A senior at Plainfield South High School is now a Chicago Bears Community High School All-Star award winner, team officials announced Thursday.

Owen McGuire is the fifth student to receive the award by the Bears this season. Through the program, a total of nine high school football players are honored for making a positive impact on their school and community.

For each winner, the Bears make a $500 donation to a charitable organization of the student's choosing. McGuire selected Fox Valley Special Recreation as his charity.

Along with the title and donation made on their behalf, each winner receives a custom hand-painted football, a gift bag and an invitation to a future Bears event.

"I am truly grateful and humbled to receive the Chicago Bears Community All-Star award," McGuire said in a statement. "It has been an amazing journey from freshman year all the way until now. From day one, Coach Bicker taught our program the Core 4: Be Respectful, Responsible, Hardworking and Caring. I passionately took this to heart and implemented it within all aspects of my life. I use the Core 4 at church, school, athletics and in my community."

The Plainfield South student holds a 3.7 GPA and is committed to the University of St. Francis where he will continue his athletic and academic careers.

A four-year quarterback at his high school, McGuire has helped mentor younger teammates and would give them rides to and from practice, Bears officials said. Off the field, he leads a local church's youth group, teaches Vacation Bible School for children, and is part of the Plainfield South Leadership Corps as a mentor to freshmen.

"I would like to say thank you to my teammates, coaches and faculty at Plainfield South High School for believing in me and pushing me to be not only a better student-athlete, but a greater man," he said. "I am beyond blessed to have such loving and supportive parents who have challenged me and molded me into the person I am today. Thank you to the Chicago Bears for this amazing award and I hope I can continue serving my community and live up to this honor for years to come."

His football coach, Bill Bicker, praised McGuire and called him "one of the most caring and respectful student-athletes" he has coached.

"Our football program is based on something we call the Core 4 - Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Hardworking and Be Caring," the coach said in a statement. "They are the four traits of successful people, and Owen embodies them better than any player I can think of. There are few, if any, student-athletes in our building who are as committed to the classroom and their sports as Owen. I cannot think of any that are more responsible or hardworking, and he is one of the most caring and respectful student-athletes I have had the privilege to coach. Furthermore, he has perhaps the most integrity of anyone I have known in my life. Owen has made me a better coach and inspires me to be a better person. He is an absolute all-star in our building and community and a fitting choice for the Chicago Bears Community All-Star."