There are high school athletes.

Then there are high school scholar athletes.

And then are high school scholar “super people” athletes.

List Liz Simms of Butler, Jake Stebbins of Seneca Valley and Ally DeJidas of Freeport in that final category.

That trio will be among 20 athletes — 10 male, 10 female — receiving WPIAL Scholar Athlete Awards during a luncheon Monday in Greentree.

“It takes a lot for a student to receive this honor,” Seneca Valley athletic director Heather Lewis said. “The school chooses someone to nominate. A five-page application is completed. The school principal writes a letter of recommendation.

“A committee reviews all of the applicants and makes the selections. There are so many tremendous student athletes in the WPIAL. These 20 kids ... They are the best of the best.”

Stebbins is a former wrestler at Seneca Valley who was a tight end-linebacker on the football team. He made all-section on both sides of the ball.

Headed to Cornell University to play football, he plans to major in statistics there. Stebbins is carrying a 5.05 grade point average in high school, largely through weighted classes.

He has also done mission work in Kenya.

“My parents taught me at a very young age that you can achieve what you want in life, but you have to work hard for it,” Stebbins said. “The hard work pays off in the end.”

He learned that same lesson through football.

“The way we fought back in the playoffs to beat the teams that beat us in the regular season is something I'll never forget,” Stebbins said. “I remember looking up at the scoreboard at North Allegheny, seeing we were up 31-14 with nine minutes left. We were headed back to Heinz Field.”

Stebbins played on Seneca Valley teams that reached Heinz Field and the WPIAL championship games his sophomore and senior year.

Simms played soccer for three years at Butler before running cross country her senior year. A standout middle distance runner in track and field, she is headed to Davidson University to major in biology.

Simms carries a 4.24 grade point average at Butler and is involved in numerous extra-curricular activities. She is president of the Best Buddies program at Butler, which promotes one-on-one friendship in school.

“I've always been a busy person,” Simms said. “That was ingrained in me when I was younger. I've had a tremendous support system.”

Simms has also been involved in charity fund-raising in recent years.

“There are so many great athletes and students in the WPIAL,” she said. “I'm humbled to win an award like this. It's an extreme honor.”

After helping her team win the WPIAL team track championship for the third straight year, Simms is hoping she can help the Tornado's 4x800 and 4x400 meter relay teams win the WPIAL and shine at the PIAA meet. She is looking to shine herself in the 800.

“My high school career is winding down, but there is a lot more to accomplish,” she said.

DeJidas lettered four years in softball, four years in volleyball and lettered in basketball this year at Freeport. She is carrying a 3.9 grade point average and is headed to Mercyhurst University to major in physical therapy.

She's been playing travel softball since age 12.

“I've been dreaming about playing college softball since I was in elementary school,” DeJidas said. “I grew up watching it on TV and always wanted to be like those girls.”

A center fielder since her freshman year, DeJidas is hitting .579 with five home runs this season.

DeJidas also belongs to Key Club, Student Council, Ski Club and the National Honor Society.

“My parents have told me since I was a young girl ... If you want to get somewhere special in life, you have to work hard to get there,” DeJidas said. “Nothing is going to be handed to you.

“I'm proud of where I'm at and what this award represents. But there is so much more to come.”