SCOTTSDALE, AZ (April 18, 2024) – The Fiesta Bowl Organization earned top honors among all college football postseason bowl games as the Best in Student-Athlete Experience for its community engagement activities for both participating teams during Vrbo Fiesta Bowl game week.
The Bowl Season Besties awards, in its second year, was created to recognize the efforts of the bowl industry. The Vrbo Fiesta Bowl was selected as the winner based on creativity, student-athlete impact engagement and community impact.
The Fiesta Bowl Organization's Best in Student-Athlete Experience entry centered around the teams' community service events for Oregon and Liberty in the days leading into last season's Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. Fiesta Bowl Charities arranged interactive activities at the team's practice facilities where the full squads for each of Oregon and Liberty, including both head coaches, partnered with nonprofit organizations on consecutive days to make a lasting difference in Arizona's communities.
Oregon took part in a football field day with Positive Coaching Alliance to benefit youth from Mikey's League and Special Olympics Arizona, while Liberty, in partnership with PNC Bank, built wagons with the Girl Scouts Arizona Cactus-Pine Council Daisy Troops that were used by the girls in their cookie deliveries this spring.
"The complete student-athlete experience is what makes bowl season special, creating memories that players will cherish and share with their friends, family and teammates for the rest of their lives," said Fiesta Bowl Executive Director & CEO Erik Moses. "From the time student-athletes land in Phoenix and are welcomed by our Yellow Jackets and a mariachi band, to their arrival at our world-class resorts, the weather and off-the-field events, there are smiles on faces of the players. The Fiesta Bowl delivers a fun and well-rounded experience for the student-athletes and entire travel parties. Seeing the Oregon and Liberty players totally immersed in their interactions with our community partners meant the world to the teens and Girl Scouts."
Oregon brought its entire roster for its football field day with 80 youth from Special Olympics Arizona and Mikey's League, an inclusive organization that provides sports opportunities for athletes with and without physical or cognitive disabilities. Along with 10 volunteer coaches from Positive Coaching Alliance and 20 Fiesta Bowl staff and volunteers, the Oregon student-athletes engaged with the youth through five different football stations.
The full Liberty roster, alongside volunteers from the Fiesta Bowl and PNC Bank, teamed up with 40 Girl Scouts to build 80 cookie delivery wagons. Each wagon benefitted a member of the Girl Scout Daisy troops, made up of kindergarten and first grade students starting their Girl Scouts journey. The student-athletes took part in a competitive wagon-building activity, complete with a trophy for the winning team, while working with the girls, who utilized the wagons in delivering their legendary cookies to those who ordered.
Five Bowl Season Besties were awarded for the leader in the categories for Best in Events, Best in Student-Athlete Experience, Best in Community Engagement, Best in Marketing and Best in Game Presentation. Finalists were voted on by a committee comprised of Bowl Executive Directors and the Bowl Season Awards Committee.
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.
ABOUT BOWL SEASON
Bowl Season is one of the oldest and greatest traditions in American sports, taking place in late December and running through New Year's Day, and has been college football's postseason for more than 100 years. It promotes the grand tradition of the bowl system and its endearing value to student-athletes, highlighting the broader university and college communities, including spirit squads, marching bands, athletic staff, and fans. Bowl Season spotlights the distinctive history of each of the bowl games along with their proud communities - embracing and honoring the bowl experience for present and future generations.
