Sebastian Zapolski-Bialek has become a regular sporting events volunteer. When not performing his job at Arizona State University as a simulation technologist lead at the Grace Center for Innovation in Nursing Education, he is likely enjoying his role as a volunteer at events like Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, the NCAA men's basketball Final Four and the WNBA All-Star Game. That is just a seven-month sampling.
 
Then in October, he served several shifts at the PNC Fiesta Sports Foundation Par 3 Challenge presented by Chapman Automotive. In December, he towed the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) float at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe. Three days later he was at the pregame Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Fan Fest, setting footballs for fans trying to kick them through inflatable goal posts.
 
His efforts and enthusiasm were noticed. In his first year volunteering with Fiesta Sports Foundation, he was named the Glenn Hawkins Volunteer of the Year, an award named for one of the Foundation's nine Founders. It recognizes a volunteer who demonstrates the same characteristics as the Fiesta Sports Foundation was founded: dedication, enthusiasm and the desire to create an unmatched experience.
 
Zapolski-Bialek grew up in the Valley and remembers attending Fiesta Bowl games at Sun Devil Stadium, but he did not dip his foot into the volunteer pool until this year when he sought opportunities on the Fiesta Sports Foundation website.
 
During the Par 3 Challenge, his first Fiesta Sports Foundation volunteer event, he served as a greens supervisor with a tape measure to determine the closest to the pin distance for the hole's prize winner.
 
"While I did not experience a hole-in-one on the greens that I supervised, I heard a loud celebration at a green not far from my location," he said.
 
As Zapolski-Bialek prepared for the Fiesta Bowl Parade, he was briefed on key details, including the route, the order of the floats, balloons and other performers, before they handed him the keys to a pickup truck attached to the Dia de los Muertos float.
 
At the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Fan Fest he was assigned to the field goal kicking station, where he held footballs while kids and adults tried to split the inflatable uprights, mostly without success. Except for one middle school girl.
 
"She just couldn't miss," he said.
 
This spring, shortly before the annual Volunteer Appreciation Party at the Phoenix Zoo, Zapolski-Bialek received an email telling him he was a finalist for the Glenn Hawkins Volunteer of the Year Award. He decided to go, thinking it might be fun though he did not believe he had a chance to win. Then he heard his name called out - or at least what he thought was his name.
 
"When I heard my name get called, I had to do a double-take to make certain as my name was mispronounced," he said. "When my first name, Sebastian, was called, I didn't get too excited because there could have been another Sebastian nominated for the award. I was pleasantly surprised at winning the award."
 
As for next year?
 
"If the Fiesta Bowl Sports Foundation has additional volunteer events available, and I have free time in my schedule, I will sign up," he said. "Just working sporting events in general is definitely an opportunity that everyone should at least try. I had a great time."