National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics

Description
This award has been created by NACDA and is sponsored by the Fiesta Bowl to recognize outstanding community service efforts for NACDA Division I member institutions. NACDA and the Fiesta Bowl will be awarding a trophy to the winning institution in an on-campus presentation in the fall of 2025.

Nomination Eligibility Requirements
Nominee must be a paid NACDA Division I member institution.
Nominations must be submitted by a staff member of the athletics department, the member institution, or the conference.

Criteria
Athletics departments being nominated for this award will have consistently demonstrated qualities of compassion, and service to either one organization or a variety of volunteer activities in one school year (2024-25).

The award recognizes and honors an exceptional athletics department who makes volunteerism and community service a way of life. The winning institution will be one who exemplifies the best in volunteering and demonstrates a responsibility for helping others, thus connecting citizens and addressing community issues. Additionally, the award winner will be a department who makes selfless and extraordinary contributions beyond what is expected of them for the betterment of the local community and beyond. This award should not be a for a single student-athlete or team, but the overall athletics department.

Nomination Process
The nomination form for 2025-26 will open later this year. Institutions must submit up to a 500-word description of their community service during the 2024-25 school year, including objectives, demographics or communities served and outcomes.
Supporting collateral including videos, photos and social media may also be submitted.

Timeline
Time period for nominations: February 3, 2025 - May 2, 2025
Judging/Panel Review: May 5-12, 2025
Announce winner: Monday, June 9, 2025 (in conjunction with the NACDA & Affiliates Convention in Orlando)
Recognize winner: Fall 2025

Judging
Judging panel will consist of five judges:
Kristina Chumpol, Chief of Staff and Vice President of Community Investment, Fiesta Bowl
Pat Manak, Chief Executive Officer, NACDA
Thorr Bjorn, Director of Athletics, University of Rhode Island
Janet Cone, Senior Administrator for University Enterprises and Director of Athletics, UNC Asheville
Sean Frazier, Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics, Northern Illinois University

Each judge will select their five favorite entries and rank them as A, B, C, D or E (A being the highest).
In the case that a judge's institution has been nominated, they will not be permitted to vote for their own institution.
The nomination with the most first-place votes ('A' rankings) will be the winner; if there is more than one nomination with the same number of first place votes, the winner will be the nomination with the most first- and second-place votes; and if there is still a tie, the winner will be the nomination with the most first-, second- and third- place votes and so on.

Judging Criteria
Nominations will be judged based on the following criteria:

• What was the goal/objective and was it reached?
• Delivery of impactful community service.
• Participation rate of the relevant department (Recognition is department-wide only, not individual or team).
• The degree to which services/ actions have made a lasting or meaningful contribution or impact on the community.
• The extent to which the service or action might be considered above and beyond the call of duty.
• The extent to which the action would be recognized and valued by peers/ community leaders.

Press Releases
June 10, 2025 - NACDA and the Fiesta Bowl Select Boston College as 2025 Community Service Award Winner
June 6, 2025 - NACDA and the Fiesta Bowl Announce Top 3 Finalists for 2025 Community Service Award
June 10, 2024 - NACDA and the Fiesta Bowl Honor San José State University as 2024 Community Service Award Winner
June 12, 2023 - NACDA and the Fiesta Bowl Select Iowa State as 2023 Community Service Award Winner
June 27, 2022 - NACDA and the Fiesta Bowl Select Ohio State as 2022 Community Service Award Winner
July 27, 2021 - NACDA and the Fiesta Bowl Announce Georgia Tech as 2021 Community Service Award Winner
June 9, 2020 - NACDA and the Fiesta Bowl Select Vanderbilt University as 2020 Community Service Award Winner
July 10, 2019 - NACDA and the Fiesta Bowl Select Boston College as 2019 Community Service Award Winner
June 10, 2019 - NACDA and the Fiesta Bowl Announce Finalists for 2019 Community Service Award
July 19, 2018 - NACDA and the Fiesta Bowl Select University of Southern California as 2018 Community Service Award Winner
June 28, 2018 - NACDA and the Fiesta Bowl Announce Finalists for 2018 Community Service Award
July 18, 2017 - NACDA and the Fiesta Bowl Select University of Maryland as 2017 Community Service Award Winner
June 12, 2017 - NACDA and the Fiesta Bowl Announce Finalists for Inaugural Community Service Award
February 2, 2017 - NACDA and the John McLendon Minority Scholarship Foundation announce new partnership with the Fiesta Bowl