Jan. 2, 2014
NEW ORLEANS -- Northwestern senior place-kicker Jeff Budzien, the Big Ten Kicker of the Year and an All-American performer in 2013, is ringing in the New Year in the Big Easy with his fellow members of the 2013 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team ® , college football's pre-eminent community service award.
On the first day of 2014, Budzien and the additional 10 Good Works Team honorees surprised youngsters at the YMCA of Greater New Orleans by hosting and participating in a football skills clinic at the Isidore Newman School in New Orleans. More than 200 children were on hand to learn from a group of college football's most talented players and share in their passion for volunteerism.
Before the clinic, Allstate announced a $10,000 donation to the YMCA of Greater New Orleans to further the organization's mission.
On Thursday, the 2013 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® will be introduced and recognized at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome during halftime of the Allstate Sugar Bowl®, which this year pits the University of Oklahoma against the University of Alabama (6:30 p.m. CT, ESPN).
Since arriving at Northwestern in 2009, Budzien has made a significant impact on the Evanston and campus communities. The Wisconsin native serves on the Northwestern Special Olympics Executive Committee, organizing key annual events including the Polar Plunge and Young Athletes Day, makes frequent visits to a local elementary school to assist their on-site social worker, and is an annual contributor to Read Across Evanston Week. A member of Northwestern's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Budzien also led members of the Wildcats football family in creating a program to combat bullying at a local middle school.
Budzien is the seventh Northwestern player in the last eight years to earn selection to the prestigious Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, joining former Wildcats Al Netter (2011), Corbin Bryant (2010), Andrew Brewer (2009), Eric Peterman (2008), Adam Kadela (2007) and Joel Howells (2006).
2013 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
Fred Lee, WR, Buffalo
Nick Forbes, LB, California
Jordan Luallen, FB, Cincinnati
Dave Harding, OL, Duke
Jacob Karam, QB, Memphis
Stephen Morris, QB, Miami (Fla.)
C.J. Zimmerer, RB, Nebraska
Asa Watson, TE, North Carolina State
Jeff Budzien, PK, Northwestern
Eric Soza, QB, UTSA
Carey Spear, PK, Vanderbilt
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