The Big Ten Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award presented by Discover was established in 2025 to recognize student-athletes at Big Ten institutions who strive to have a positive impact not only in their chosen sport, but also within their community. Jackie Robinson was a standout student-athlete at UCLA, where he was the school's first four-sport letter winner, excelling in football, basketball, track and field, and baseball. Beyond his athletic prowess, however, he is recognized and honored for his contributions off the field: integrating Major League Baseball and his lifelong commitment to social justice. He is the embodiment of the Big Ten's mission to develop strong student leaders, and we honor his legacy and core values of courage, determination, teamwork, persistence, integrity, citizenship, justice, commitment, and excellence. As Jackie famously said, “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”
Each Big Ten member-institution nominates two student-athletes, one male and one female, from their respective schools. The Big Ten Conference selects two national winners from the 36 nominations each year. Student-athletes are nominated based on the following criteria:
- Demonstrated Impact: Significant and tangible contributions to community projects or causes, including measurable outcomes or positive changes resulting from their involvement.
- Collaboration and Teamwork: Ability to work effectively with others, including peers, organizations, and community members, to achieve common goals and enhance community impact.
- Consistency and Commitment: Ongoing and consistent participation in community service activities over an extended period of time.
- Visibility and Advocacy: Efforts to raise awareness and advocate for important groups or causes, leveraging their platform to promote positive change and engage others.
Out of the 36 campus honorees announced in 2025, Dillan Fontus of Maryland Football and Nanea Estrella, a member of the Iowa Women's Wrestling team, were named the national winners.
Here are the 36 student-athlete campus winners for 2025-26. The two overall conference honorees will be selected and announced in the spring of 2026:
| Institution |
Name |
Sport |
| Illinois |
TJ Griffin |
Football |
| Illinois |
Tali Joelson |
Gymnastics |
| Indiana |
Tyler Lillard |
Wrestling |
| Indiana |
Kristina Vincic |
Track & Field |
| Iowa |
Ava Bayless |
Wrestling |
| Iowa |
Will Ryan |
Cross Country | Track & Field |
| Maryland |
Joey Schneck |
Wrestling |
| Maryland |
Madeline Komoroski |
Gymnastics |
| Michigan |
Kevin Kearns |
Lacrosse |
| Michigan |
Zoë Bormet |
Field Hockey |
| Michigan State |
Maddie Lawlor |
Field Hockey |
| Michigan State |
Jalen Thompson |
Football |
| Minnesota |
Charlie Sutherland |
Baseball |
| Minnesota |
Niamya (Nia) Holloway |
Basketball |
| Nebraska |
Katelyn Caneda |
Softball |
| Nebraska |
Michael Booker III |
Football |
| Northwestern |
Kansas Robinson |
Softball |
| Northwestern |
Najee Story |
Football |
| Ohio State |
Caleb Downs |
Football |
| Ohio State |
Makenna Webster |
Ice Hockey | Field Hockey |
| Oregon |
Matt Bedford |
Football |
| Oregon |
Blessyn McMorris |
Acrobatics & Tumbling |
| Penn State |
Nick Dawkins |
Football |
| Penn State |
Elise DeWan |
Field Hockey |
| Purdue |
Devin Mockobee |
Football |
| Purdue |
Emma Bailey |
Softball |
| Rutgers |
Jude Essuman |
Soccer |
| Rutgers |
Caitlin Collins |
Lacrosse |
| UCLA |
Jordan Robinson |
Track & Field |
| UCLA |
Karson Gordon |
Football | Track & Field |
| USC |
Maribel Flores |
Soccer |
| USC |
Robert Gref |
Diving |
| Washington |
Franck Kepnang |
Basketball |
| Washington |
Rhonda Newton |
Track & Field |
| Wisconsin |
Rico Hallman |
Football |
| Wisconsin |
Erin Connolly |
Soccer |