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Old Grad's Legacy
The Old Grad Award celebrates the achievements of the top male and female senior athletes in Atlantic County. Recipients and nominees are chosen by their school's athletic directors based on criteria outlined by the Old Grad Committee. The Committee has awarded 251 students the prestigious award.
History
The Old Grad Award was created in the mid-1940's by George and Joe McCabe, the award was retroactively applied to previous generations of athletes with the help of Atlantic City Press sports writer Eddie Nichterlein. By researching archives and sports files, the group established a complete history of the best athletes in Atlantic County, dating back to 1894.
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George & Joe McCabe and Nichterlein worked on the award for the remainder of their lives, with George dedicating over 60 years to leading and financially supporting the entire organization. The McCabe family continues to raise the majority of the money to support the scholarship for the award winners, with the Committee continuing the legacy of organizing the award banquet and selecting the winner on an annual basis.
This prestigious and historic award continues the tradition of recognizing outstanding athletic accomplishments at the conclusion of each school year. The award luncheon, held at Greate Bay Country Club annually attracts over 100 attendees each year.
George McCabe
Joe McCabe
The McCabe Family
As the children and grandchildren of founders George and Joe McCabe, the McCabe family has remained steadfast in upholding the principles that guided the Old Grad Award from its earliest days: dedication, sportsmanship, and a deep pride in the Atlantic County community. These values, central to George and Joe’s vision, continue to shape the award’s mission more than a century later.
Over the years, the McCabe family has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars, providing the resources needed to sustain and expand the award so that it may continue to recognize the achievements of exceptional young athletes. Their commitment is not only financial but also deeply personal, rooted in a desire to honor the founders’ legacy and inspire future generations. Together with the generosity of many other donors, their ongoing support ensures that the Old Grad Award remains a living tradition that celebrates excellence, fosters community, and carries forward the spirit in which it was created.
