Eastern Oregon University Athletics

NORTHBROOK, Ill. – Eastern Oregon University football player, Chris Ware, has been named one the final nominees for the AFCA Good Works Team.

To honor the distinguished group of college football players who stand out for the positive influence they have in their communities, Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced the 112 student-athletes nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®. It is the most ever in the 19-year history of the award.

In the areas of giving back and volunteerism, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team represents the "best of the best" among more than 50,000 student-athletes participating in the sport at all four-year institutions. The total eclipses the 106 nominees achieved last season, demonstrating the continued growth of a platform that is widely recognized as the most prestigious community service award in college football.

While glory and praise may be traditionally reserved for the most athletically skilled college football players on the field, it is the student-athletes committed to serving others who make the most important impact off the field. The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® exists to tell their stories and acknowledge their impact beyond the game.

"In the third year of our partnership with the AFCA, Allstate, our employees and our agents continue to be inspired by the stories of class and character displayed by these young men," vice president of sales and service for Allstate, Guy Hill said, who also serves on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team voting panel. "We applaud the commitment of these 112 student-athletes to positively impact their communities with innovation, creativity and passion that reflects so well on their sport, and their respective institutions."

This year's class of nominations includes student-athletes with a wide range of accomplishments, including developing programs to support Haitian relief efforts, working with rural and minority students to help them reach their goal of attending medical school, and organizing a campus fundraiser to incentivize students to shave their heads to raise money for pediatric cancer research.

From the nominees submitted by sports information directors on behalf of their schools, a special voting panel consisting of former Good Works Team members and prominent college football media members is responsible for selecting two 11-player Good Works Teams – one comprised of players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and another representing players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III, and the NAIA – to be announced in September. College Football Hall of Fame member and ESPN broadcaster Lou Holtz is returning for a third year to serve as spokesperson for the program and raise awareness for the stories of the nominees and team members.

"For the third straight year, the AFCA is pleased to partner with Allstate in highlighting football student-athletes who have achieved outstanding success, both on and off the football," AFCA Executive Director, Grant Teaff said. "From the record total of nominees that were submitted from colleges and universities around the country, it is apparent that collegiate football is producing some of the best and brightest that our country has to offer."

ESPN.com will launch a customized Allstate AFCA Good Works Team web site featuring profiles and images of the final 22 award recipients, as well as unique and interactive content for college football fans. For the first time in the program's history, fans will be able to vote for a Team Captain on ESPN.com.

In order to meet the criteria set forth by Allstate and AFCA, each player must be actively involved and committed to working with a charitable organization, service group or community service while maintaining good academic standing.

The Allstate AFCA Good Works Teams were established in 1992 by the College Football Association, recognizing the extra efforts made by college football players and student support staff off the field. AFCA became the governing body of the award in 1997 and continues to honor college football players who go the extra mile for those in need. Allstate partnered to present the award starting with the 2008 season.

Since 1992, the Southeastern Conference leads all conferences with 52 selections to the Good Works Teams, followed by the Big 12 with 36 selections and the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with 22 selections. In 2009, St. Thomas, Minn. defensive back Jeffrey Hilliard became the 12th Tommie to be selected to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, giving them the most selections of all time. Super Bowl XLII and XLI champion quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning were members of the 2002 and 1997 Good Works Teams, respectively.

The 2010 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team voting panel includes: former Good Works Team members Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1997, 1998 teams), Mike Proman (Amherst, 2002 team), Mewelde Moore (Tulane, 2003 team), Brian Brenberg (St. Thomas, 2001 team), Zaid Abdul-Aleem (Duke, 1994 team); media members Lou Holtz (ESPN), Pat Forde (ESPN.com), Tom O'Toole (USA Today), Gary Shelton (St. Petersburg Times), Blair Kerkhoff (Kansas City Star); current AFCA President and Mount Union College Head Coach Larry Kehres; 1996 AFCA President Fisher DeBerry, former head coach at the United States Air Force Academy; and Allstate Vice President, Guy Hill.

The following players have been nominated for consideration to be named to the 2010 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team:

Combined Divisions (FCS (I-AA) II, III & NAIA)

Augustana College (S.D.) – Diego Oquendo
Bethel University (Minn.) – David Vavra
Campbell University – Charles Fiore
Campbellsville University (Ky.) – Calvin Bini
Central Methodist University – Matt Fraley
Centre College (Ky.) – Jonathan Pinque
Charleston Southern University – Jordan Lancaster
University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) – Madison McCalmon
Davidson College – John Behm
Drake University – Ben Morrison
Eastern New Mexico University – Jesse Poku
Eastern Oregon University – Chris Ware
Elon University – Khirey Walker
Ferrum College – T.J. Grzesikowski
Frostburg State University – Terryl Monroe
Heidelberg University – Derrick Arbogast
Hillsdale College – Kevin Hershock
Illinois Wesleyan University – Eli Williams
Lindenwood University – Billy Clark
Luther College – Jordan Grimm
Methodist University – Tyler Mosko
Millikin University – Dion Wilson
Montana State University – Tanner Ripley
North Dakota State University – Matthew Gratzek
Northern Arizona University – Mike Battisti
Northwestern State University – Justin Aldredge
Ohio Northern University – Kyle Simmons
Ouachita Baptist University – Eli Cranor
Rowan University – Matt Hoffman
St. John's University (Minn.) – John Stanton
Salisbury University – Jamey McClendon
Samford University – Jeremy Towns
Southern Illinois University – Mike McElroy
Southwest Baptist University – Steve Gachette
Tarleton State University – Brandon Johnson
Texas A&M University-Kingsville – DeIra Glover
Texas State University – Steven Kenney
University of Dayton – Dan Prindle
University of Delaware – Siddiq Haynes
University of Dubuque – Michael Zweifel
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor – Max Taylor
University of Montana – Andrew Selle
University of Rochester – Conor McMahon
University of St. Thomas (Minn.) – Ben Wartman
University of Wisconsin-Stout – Patrick Mengelkoch
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater – Aaron Rusch
Ursinus College – Mike Rissmiller
Wartburg College – Andrew Creary
Washington University (Mo.) – John Schneider
Wayne State University (Mich.) – Nick Thomas
Western Carolina University – Chris Everett
Willamette University – Scott Schoettgen
Winona State University – Cody Dummer
Wittenberg University – Jeremy Block
Youngstown State University – Torrance Nicholson