Athletics Named NACDA and Fiesta Bowl 2026 Community Service Award Winner
Jun 09 | General
LAS VEGAS – Rutgers Athletics was the recipient of the 2026 Community Service Award, presented by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and the Fiesta Bowl. The winner was announced today during the NACDA & Affiliates Convention in Las Vegas.
"We're incredibly excited and honored to receive this recognition from NACDA and the Fiesta Sports Foundation," said Carey Loch, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development and Success. "This award celebrates the remarkable impact our student-athletes make through their commitment to serving others and the strong relationships we've built with our community partners along the way."
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.
At the direction of Scarlet Knights For Life and the Office of Student-Athlete Development and Success, Rutgers has continued to distinguish itself through a deeply rooted, relationship-based approach to community service that moves beyond one-time volunteerism and toward sustained, mutually beneficial partnerships. Central to this evolution has been the program's intentional collaboration with key community organizations, resulting in direct and ongoing relationships that have transformed service into a model of best practice.
The Scarlet Knights have supported a wide range of organizations, including volunteerism with kids with special needs through Saturdays In Motion and Special Olympics and assisting food-insecure communities through Elijah's Promise, Replenish, Rutgers Food Pantry and America's Grow-a-Row.
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.
About Rutgers Athletics
The Rutgers Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (Rutgers Athletics), comprised of 24 men's and women's varsity sports serving more than 730 student-athletes, is a member of the Big Ten Conference and governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Rutgers is the Birthplace of College Football, hosting the first-ever collegiate matchup on Nov. 6, 1869, a 6-4 victory over Princeton. Rutgers Athletics is uniquely positioned in the nation's largest media market with over seven million television households, along with access to Big Ten Network and its nearly 60 million homes across the U.S. and Canada. Established in 1766, Rutgers University is the State University of New Jersey and eighth oldest higher education institution in the country. As a premier academic institution, Rutgers is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook, X and Instagram for all of the latest news and updates. Also visit ScarletKnights.com for additional information on Rutgers Athletics.
"We're incredibly excited and honored to receive this recognition from NACDA and the Fiesta Sports Foundation," said Carey Loch, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development and Success. "This award celebrates the remarkable impact our student-athletes make through their commitment to serving others and the strong relationships we've built with our community partners along the way."
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.
At the direction of Scarlet Knights For Life and the Office of Student-Athlete Development and Success, Rutgers has continued to distinguish itself through a deeply rooted, relationship-based approach to community service that moves beyond one-time volunteerism and toward sustained, mutually beneficial partnerships. Central to this evolution has been the program's intentional collaboration with key community organizations, resulting in direct and ongoing relationships that have transformed service into a model of best practice.
The Scarlet Knights have supported a wide range of organizations, including volunteerism with kids with special needs through Saturdays In Motion and Special Olympics and assisting food-insecure communities through Elijah's Promise, Replenish, Rutgers Food Pantry and America's Grow-a-Row.
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.
About Rutgers Athletics
The Rutgers Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (Rutgers Athletics), comprised of 24 men's and women's varsity sports serving more than 730 student-athletes, is a member of the Big Ten Conference and governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Rutgers is the Birthplace of College Football, hosting the first-ever collegiate matchup on Nov. 6, 1869, a 6-4 victory over Princeton. Rutgers Athletics is uniquely positioned in the nation's largest media market with over seven million television households, along with access to Big Ten Network and its nearly 60 million homes across the U.S. and Canada. Established in 1766, Rutgers University is the State University of New Jersey and eighth oldest higher education institution in the country. As a premier academic institution, Rutgers is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook, X and Instagram for all of the latest news and updates. Also visit ScarletKnights.com for additional information on Rutgers Athletics.
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