SCOTTSDALE, AZ (March 18, 2024) – The Fiesta Bowl Organization held its annual Volunteer Appreciation Party at the Phoenix Zoo to celebrate its base of more than 3,000 volunteers. At the event, six individuals were recognized as the organization's 2023-24 Volunteers of the Year alongside seven Chair's Choice Award recipients.

"We could not do what we do as an organization without our dedicated legion of volunteers," said Fiesta Bowl Executive Director & CEO Erik Moses. "Our volunteers are critical to our success at our Bowl Season games and our year-round events displaying the world-class hospitality that is our trademark. Their efforts exceed anything I have seen and are what separate the Fiesta Bowl from other organizations in Arizona and across the country."

The 2023-24 honorees were Mark Teetsel (Glenn Hawkins Volunteer of the Year), Lindsey Brist (George Leonard Rookie of the Year), Kelly McCormick (Randi Knappenberger Ambassador of the Year), Mike Lindsley (Fiesta Bowl Committee Member of the Year), Lucas Kraut (Ellie Ziegler Chair of the Year) and Connie Peters (Frank Snell Lifetime Achievement Award).

Each year, the Fiesta Bowl honors six volunteers for their commitment, dedication and efforts in helping advance the mission of the organization. The organization's 3,000 volunteers consist of Board of Directors, Yellow Jacket Committee members, Ambassadors and general volunteers. Together, the group totaled more than 22,000 volunteer hours during the 2023-24 season.

"We are thankful for our volunteers and their dedication, effort and hospitality as they represent our brand, our events and the great state of Arizona. I am proud to have served the Fiesta Bowl as a volunteer and leader for more than 20 years and the yellow jacket represents our organizational commitment to community and the standard of excellence our volunteers exhibit every day they serve," said Fiesta Bowl Board Chair Randy Norton. "Selecting our Fiesta Bowl volunteer winners is a very difficult task when everyone who serves is selfless, generous, valued and worthy of our appreciation. This year's group of volunteers exhibited exceptional dedication and stood out for their outstanding contributions."

Glenn Hawkins Volunteer of the Year – Mark Teetsel
Named after one of the nine founders of the Fiesta Bowl, the Glenn Hawkins Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes a volunteer who demonstrates the same characteristics on which the Fiesta Bowl was founded – dedication, enthusiasm and the desire to create an unmatched experience. Teetsel, a key volunteer for the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe for more than a decade, takes charge of the parade's banner carriers. Due to his support and recruitment, the 2023 Fiesta Bowl Parade had more than enough volunteers to cover every unit and ensure the fans knew who was marching down the route. Teetsel also assists in a variety of areas on event day, easing the load on Fiesta Bowl staff.

George Leonard Rookie of the Year – Lindsey Brist
The George Leonard Rookie of the Year is presented to a Yellow Jacket Committee Member in his/her first or second year who made an immediate impact on the Fiesta Bowl through volunteering and fundraising. In her first year as a Yellow Jacket, Brist was a contributor at numerous events throughout the year and consistently went above and beyond the call. Brist served as the Team Arrivals Committee Co-Chair and was the VIP Host for Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe Special Guest Diana Flores. Other volunteer service included at the PNC Fiesta Bowl Par 3 Challenge presented by Chapman Automotive and the Back to School Day with Fighter Country Foundation.

Randi Knappenberger Ambassador of the Year – Kelly McCormick
The Randi Knappenberger Ambassador of the Year is given to a dedicated Ambassador who embodies the Fiesta Bowl spirit in her dedication to the organization. After volunteering for the Fiesta Bowl Parade for five years, McCormick – a Fiesta Bowl Ambassador since 2012 – demonstrated unwavering dedication, enthusiasm and passion for volunteering this year. She served as the Ambassadors' Fiesta Bowl Parade Chair for the second consecutive year and contributed a total of 56 hours of service. In addition to her significant impact on the success of the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe, McCormick volunteered at the Oregon and Kansas Team Outreach events during bowl week among a host of other events.

Outstanding Fiesta Bowl Committee Member of the Year – Mike Lindsley
The Outstanding Fiesta Bowl Committee Member of the Year is awarded to an active Yellow Jacket Committee member who served on multiple committees and provided support and dedication to several events. Lindsley had a significant impact on the Yellow Jacket Committee by revamping the Yellow Jacket recruiting process as Recruiting Commissioner, creating a new framework for bringing in and evaluating new candidates. Lindsley, a Yellow Jacket Committee member since 2010, also served on the Charitable Giving Committee, was an Oregon team liaison for the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and volunteered at the Arizona Milk Producers Youth Football Clinic and Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers Draft Day presented by SRP.

Ellie Ziegler Fiesta Bowl Chair of the Year – Lucas Kraut
Named in honor of a personable, selfless leader, the Ellie Ziegler Fiesta Bowl Chair of the Year Award goes to the event chair who provides significant leadership and exemplary effort. A Yellow Jacket Committee member since 2016, Kraut dedicated extensive time and effort to support Fiesta Bowl staff as committee chair for the PNC Fiesta Bowl Par 3 Challenge presented by Chapman Automotive. Through his innovative ideas, the Par 3 Challenge generated the highest net revenues of the organization's year-round event portfolio. This year, the Beat the Pro Challenge contributed to that with a record amount of more than $27,000, with all proceeds benefitting Fiesta Bowl Charities.

Frank Snell Lifetime Achievement Award – Connie Peters
The Frank Snell Lifetime Achievement Award recipient is chosen by the Fiesta Bowl Board of Directors and Life Directors to honor a member of the Fiesta Bowl family who has served the organization for more than 12 years. Peters first joined the Fiesta Bowl in 1988 as an Ambassador before she transitioned onto the Yellow Jacket Committee in 2007. As a Yellow Jacket, she was a three-time Fundraising Coach and a Team Hospitality Chair. Since becoming a Yellow Jacket Committee Life Member, Peters has volunteered for the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe and Team Arrivals while still attending committee meetings.

In addition to the six Volunteer of the Year award winners, each of the Fiesta Bowl's event committee chairs selected a standout volunteer as their Chair's Choice honoree.

Arizona Milk Producers Youth Football Clinic Chair's Choice Award – Ronda Parker
PNC Fiesta Bowl Par 3 Challenge presented by Chapman Automotive Chair's Choice Award – Pauline Argeros
Game Operations Chair's Choice Award – Brittany Wilson
Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe Chair's Choice Award – Tressa Teetsel
Media Operations Chair's Choice Award – Jennifer Doan
Pregame Parties Chair's Choice Award – Randy Nawotka
Team Hospitality Chair's Choice Award – Stephanie Ruiz
 
ABOUT FIESTA BOWL
Since its inception in 1971, the Fiesta Bowl is 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 for the importance of community outreach and service. Through the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Guaranteed Rate Bowl and its year-round events, such as the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, the organization provides charitable giving to enhance Arizona nonprofit organizations that serve communities through youth, sports and education. Learn more at www.FiestaBowl.org and @Fiesta_Bowl on Twitter.