LAS VEGAS – The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and the Fiesta Bowl have announced Rutgers University as the winner of the 2026 Community Service Award today during the 2026 NACDA & Affiliates Convention.

The Community Service Award will be presented by NACDA and the Fiesta Bowl this fall, at an on-campus event hosted by Rutgers.
 
Now in its 10th year, the Fiesta Bowl Community Service award was designed to recognize NACDA member institutions in Division I honoring exceptional athletics departments that make volunteerism and community service a way of life. The Fiesta Bowl has expanded commitment to community service through a $25,000 Community Service Grant to Rutgers. This donation provides institutions with resources to expand on their community impact and leave a lasting impression on the community it is serving. 
 
A five-person committee consisting of athletics directors across the country and representatives from the Fiesta Bowl and NACDA aided in selecting Rutgers as this year's award winner. The Scarlet Knights' athletics department will receive a trophy from the Fiesta Bowl for permanent display on campus.
 
"Universities that are committed to developing student-athletes on and off the field embed community service into their culture as a foundational element," said Erik Moses, Fiesta Sports Foundation Executive Director & CEO.  "Keli Zinn has set that standard in her first year at Rutgers, championing a philosophy of consistent, long-term engagement with trusted community partners that matches our values at Fiesta Sports Foundation. The Scarlet Knights for Life program has cultivated a servant leader mentality in more than 750 student-athletes to the benefit of communities across New Jersey."
 
Scarlet Knights For Life's exceptional, relationship-driven model of community engagement set a new standard for meaningful service by prioritizing long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships over one-time volunteer efforts.
 
Through sustained collaboration with schools, nonprofits, and local organizations, Rutgers student-athletes built trust, consistency, and genuine connection—returning to the same community spaces to deepen impact and better understand evolving needs. These ongoing relationships have strengthened both the service experience and the communities served, offering reliable support for partners while fostering empathy, leadership, and accountability among student-athletes.
 
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) played a pivotal role in this work, empowering student-athletes to take ownership of partnerships and ensuring service efforts remained responsive and effective. This approach has also sparked a broader ripple effect, linking community organizations with alumni, donors, and campus resources to expand opportunities and amplify impact.
 
By embedding service within a framework of sustained partnership, Scarlet Knights For Life has created a best-practice model for transformational, community-centered engagement. Rutgers University's commitment to long-term collaboration continues to elevate the role of athletics in service and stands as a powerful example of what meaningful, sustainable impact can look like. 

About Fiesta Sports Foundation: Since its inception in 1971, the Fiesta Sports Foundation has been a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans during and outside of college football bowl season. As a nonprofit organization, it is driven by its vision to create unforgettable experiences through world-class sporting events, unparalleled hospitality and life-changing community impact. Through the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Cactus Bowl and its year-round events, including the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, the Foundation provides charitable resources to support Arizona nonprofit organizations that serve communities through a focus on youth, sports and education. Learn more at www.FiestaSportsFoundation.org and @Fiesta_Bowl on X/Instagram. 
 
About NACDA: Now in its 61st year, NACDA is the professional and educational Association for more than 24,000 college athletics administrators at more than 2,300 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. NACDA manages 19 professional associations and four foundations. In addition to virtual programming, NACDA hosts and/or has a presence at seven major professional development events in-person annually. The NACDA & Affiliates Convention is the largest gathering of collegiate athletics administrators in the country. For more information, visit www.nacda.com.