This annual scholarship award is presented to a player that the Conestoga Coaches identify as the player who best exemplifies a passion for playing football and a physical and mental commitment to the game.  This player should exhibit leadership qualities that shape and inspire others to be better football players and teammates.

Coach Harry Gicking's passion for playing football started with a leather helmet and no face mask in the 7th grade. His love of the game culminated in an undefeated Senior Year at Lansdowne Aldan High School in 1966 where he played running back and linebacker for the Lords.

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After his HS playing days, Coach went on to play football for the Juniata Eagles for 4 years playing running back all the while developing his leadership skills as a captain his senior year.

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Coach went on to grad school in 1971 to further his teaching skills and soon graduated from Bucknell University Teaching College.

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It was "game on" after Bucknell as Harry started both his teaching and coaching career at TE Junior High School in 1973. It was at TE that the coach first taught social studies and became the school’s head varsity football coach.

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Coach taught in the TE School district for 35 years at TE Junior High, Valley Forge Junior High, and Conestoga High as a respected and admired social studies teacher. His teaching career was enfolded by his football coaching career which spans over 40 years and counting.  Harry was Conestoga’s head coach for 6 years and then also spent 24 years at Conestoga as defensive coordinator throughout the ‘80s, ‘90s, and 2000s. Coach Gick also had stints at Delaware Valley College and Widener University as a linebacker coach. Harry has spent the last 8 years working alongside his son at Marple Newtown as defensive coordinator where his coaching career continues as of this writing in June 2022.

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Coach Gicking instilled and implored in his players the character, commitment, and passion to play winning football.  He gave 100% to his teaching and coaching careers—this was a massive undertaking in discipline but one that Harry thinks was noble and worth every moment. His commitment to coaching and teaching in the community can be summed up by his creed, "A player cannot just show up but must get better every day."

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Coach made an impact on so many former players, coaching the principles of teamwork, sportsmanship, and discipline, forging into all the passion to play on the gridiron, that a scholarship was endowed. The first Coach Harry Gicking “Coaches” Scholarship was awarded in June of 2022.