This award is what Will is all about. There is no doubt that he will be very successful in the future.”

Coach Shawn Burkart

YODER – The Homer and Janet Scott Family Foundation selected five exceptional high school football players and scholars – one from each classification in Wyoming – to receive the Scotty Scott Outstanding Citizen Award.

The 2025 award winners included Southeast High School senior William Knowlton, representing the 1A 9-man football.

Football coaches from across the state nominated individuals for the award on the basis of “exceptional service, volunteerism and character” embodied by the student athlete in their school and community, a foundation press release stated.

The outstanding citizen honorees each received a scholarship and a matching donation to a local organization chosen by the award winner. Knowlton selected Scouting America Troop No. 26 for his donation.

A ceremony is scheduled during halftime at the 2025 Wyoming Shrine Bowl all-star football game to recognize Knowlton and the other four recipients of the Scotty Scott Outstanding Citizen Awards. The Shrine Bowl takes place at Natrona County High School’s Cheney Alumni Field in Casper on Saturday, July 14.

An outstanding citizen and athlete

Knowlton is an active member of several local service and volunteer organizations, though he highlighted his participation in Scouting America, the National Honor Society (NHS) and FFA in the award press release.

Knowlton’s Eagle Scout project involved planning, planting and maintaining a 1.5-acre garden for charity. The garden produced nearly 500 pounds of fresh produce for the local food bank during the course of a single summer.

Knowlton’s involvement in Scouting America also included laying wreaths during Memorial Day, ringing the bell for the Salvation Army, mapping the Guernsey Cemetery and constructing a new hiking trail at Guernsey State Park.

As a member of the NHS, Knowlton helped organize social events at an assisted living facility and volunteered at the local research farm. Knowlton also served as a line judge and volunteer at sports events hosted by Southeast High School through the NHS.

Knowlton served as an officer for the Southeast High School FFA Chapter. FFA projects consisted of creating tie blankets for court appointed special advocates in Cheyenne, assembling gift boxes for global distribution through Operation Christmas Child, clearing dead trees from school grounds and donating the firewood and building goat pens at the Goshen County Fairgrounds.

“I feel that through these projects and organizations I have had a significant, positive impact on my school and community,” Knowlton said.

On the athletic field, Knowlton played football for the Southeast Cyclones and was as full-time starter during the 2024 season. Knowlton played linebacker and defensive back and was a running back and receiver on offence.

The Southeast coaching staff, headed by Shawn Burkart, selected Knowlton for the team’s annual Bruce Sinner Award in 2024. The award goes to an athlete “exhibiting what a great teammate should be,” Burkart said.

Knowlton was a “good contributor” to the Southeast Cyclones football program over the course of his high school career, Burkart noted.

“Will was such a pleasure to coach,” Burkart added. “He was always willing to do whatever it took to help the team. He was a great teammate and always encouraged others. He excelled in the classroom and in the community. This award – the Scotty Scott Outstanding Citizen Award – is what Will is all about. There is no doubt that he will be very successful in the future.”

Knowlton is a multisport athlete and the senior runs distance for the Southeast High School track team, including the grueling 3200-meter race.

Knowlton also competed on the County 7 Clay Busters high school trap shooting team.

The Scotty Scott outstanding citizen award honors the memory of the late Homer “Scotty” Scott Jr. of Sheridan. Scott was a longtime supporter of youth activities and athletics in Wyoming.

The outstanding citizen award class of 2025 included Knowlton, Bridger Cozzens of Little Snake River (1A 6-man classification), Ash Doke of Big Horn (2A), Ryan Cox of Riverton (3A) and Masen Wekele of Rock Springs (4A).