CLEVELAND (July 27, 2021) – The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and the Fiesta Bowl have announced Georgia Tech as the winner of the 2021 Community Service Award. Georgia Tech received the award for its #AllVoteNoPlay initiative.
 
The Community Service Award will be presented to Georgia Tech on Saturday, Nov. 13 during its football game against Boston College at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta.
 
"We talk often at Georgia Tech about how the power of sport gives us a platform to impact our communities. I am proud of our student-athletes, coaches and staff that used their platforms to promote citizenship and encourage everyone to take part in their most sacred civic duty as Americans – the right to vote," said Todd Stansbury, director of athletics at Georgia Tech. "I congratulate our amazing student-athletes, coaches and staff for receiving this tremendous honor and thank the Fiesta Bowl and NACDA for recognizing their efforts."
 
The 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. A five-person committee consisting of athletics directors across the country and representatives from the Fiesta Bowl and NACDA aided in selecting Georgia Tech as this year's award winner. The athletics department will receive a trophy from the Fiesta Bowl for permanent display.
 
"College student-athletes are increasingly making community service a meaningful part of their overall experience and that's exciting to see. Georgia Tech's program started in Atlanta, branched out nationally and was impressive in its scope to bring the importance of voting to light," said Fiesta Bowl Executive Director Mike Nealy. "Todd Stansbury and the entire Georgia Tech Athletics family continue to contribute within their community on and off the field at the highest levels."
 
"We are proud to recognize Todd Stansbury and the entire Georgia Tech athletics department for their important work as part of their national #AllVoteNoPlay campaign," said NACDA Chief Executive Officer Bob Vecchione. "The 2020-21 academic year was difficult to navigate for many reasons, and through the efforts spearheaded by Malachi Rice and Coach Reveno, student-athletes across the country were able to find their voice and use their platform in positive ways."
 
What emerged from a men's basketball virtual team discussion during the summer of 2020 launched the national #AllVoteNoPlay campaign that championed new NCAA legislation by petitioning for Federal Election Day on November 3, 2020, as a day off from all athletics activities, therefore allowing student-athletes and staff time to practice their civic right to vote.
 
The ultimate objective that emerged last summer was Georgia Tech men's basketball associate head coach Eric Reveno's desire to increase civic engagement and education among student-athletes and increase voter participation in the 18-24-year-old population. Once the idea began evolving and gaining nationwide support, Reveno partnered with the NABC and ALL IN to create the voters engagement pledge, of which more than 1,100 men's basketball coaches from all divisions and levels signed.
 
Together, a voter engagement playbook was created and sent to each coach that signed the pledge, and all Georgia Tech coaches, detailing ways to engage student-athletes in voting and non-partisan voter education. From the pledge, over 5,000 student-athletes were aided in registering to vote.
 
The Georgia Tech athletics department remains committed to continuing to serve its student-athletes and has expanded its renowned Total Person Program to include civic engagement programming.
 
Click here to read more about the #AllVoteoPlay campaign highlighted in a feature story from ESPN.
 
About the Fiesta Bowl: The Fiesta Bowl's vision is to be a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans. As a nonprofit organization, it believes in the importance of community outreach and service. Through charitable giving, the organization strives to enhance Arizona nonprofit organizations that contribute to the success of communities through youth, sports and education. Since 1971, the Fiesta Bowl has worked to increase its footprint across the state and work to benefit Arizonans year-round, during and outside of bowl season. For more information about its local impact and how to get involved, visit FiestaBowl.org.
 
About NACDA: NACDA, now in its 56th year, is the professional and educational Association for more than 22,000 college athletics administrators at more than 2,200 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. More than 6,500 athletics administrators annually attend NACDA & Affiliates Convention Week. Additionally, NACDA manages 17 professional associations and four foundations. For more information on NACDA, visit www.nacda.com.