Wuerffel Trophy Recipients

Name School Bio
Teton Saltes
2020
University of New Mexico

 Bio to follow. For more, please visit www.WuerffelTrophy.org

 

Jon Wassink
2019
Western Michigan University

 

Bio to follow. For more, please visit www.WuerffelTrophy.org

 

 

Drue Tranquil
2018
University of Notre Dame Tranquil volunteers his time locally with Lifeworks Ministry, AWP Sports, as an ambassador for Dream Teams, with the Food Bank of Northern Indiana, the Center for the Homeless and South Bend Boys and Girls Clubs, just to name a few. Also, he has served on three mission trips to the Dominican Republic as a team leader with Here for Kids International
Courtney Love
2017
University of Kentucky Love volunteers his time with Amachi Central Kentucky, mentoring area youth especially those living in a one-parent household or children who have parents who are incarcerated. His community service efforts also include visiting patients at UK Children’s Hospital, Read Across America, Special Olympics, mentoring and Picadome Elementary School, Big Brothers/Big Sisters along with serving in mission work in Ethiopia.
Trevor Knight
2016
Texas A&M After leading three mission trips to Haiti while at OU, Knight was the driving force to set up a similar mission trip at A&M this year. Additionally he has participated in countless local community service efforts with Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center, local churches, schools and other organizations in Norman, Oklahoma and College Station, Texas. Knight is a two-time Wuerffel Trophy nominee.
Ty Darlington
2015
Oklahoma Darlington led the Oklahoma’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter.   Darlington twice visited Haiti as part of the Mission of Hope program, repairing damage caused by a massive earthquake. He also represented the Big 12 at the 2015 NCAA Convention and at the conference’s “State of College Athletics” Forum.
Deterrian Shackleford
2014
University of Mississippi Shackleford has helped lead two mission trips to Haiti and Panama while also mentoring local Oxford youth. He has been actively involved in the Oxford, MS community, helping lead efforts to fight hunger and raise funds for cancer research. He is also a highly sought-after speaker for school, community and church groups and is a dedicated member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Gabe Ikard
2013
Oklahoma State Ikard serves on the OU leadership team for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, was lauded by the school for his leadership in responding to the tragic Oklahoma City tornado disaster earlier this year and made a life-changing relief trip to earthquake-stricken Haiti in 2012
Matt Barkley
2012
University of Southern California

A fixture in Los Angeles, Barkley has worked with children from 17 local elementary schools around USC. He has volunteered with S.C.O.R.E (Service, Community, Outreach, Responsibility and Education, based out of USC), helping to encourage inner-city kids with pursuing their education.

​Barkley also made an impact abroad. In May of 2012, Matt helped spearhead a trip with his family and 15 teammates for a week working in Sous Savanne, Haiti, building four houses for underprivileged families.

He and his family took a trip to Nigeria in 2010, where their philanthropic work included construction projects and bringing 1,200 pounds of much-needed supplies, hygiene kits, sports equipment, toys and Christmas gifts, all donated by numerous friends of the group.

Barrett Jones
2011
University of Alabama Jones has made two mission trips to Haiti to help people struggling with daily life and to help build a school and orphanage. He has actively participated in tornado cleanup in Tuscaloosa and worked with countless other community organizations in his time at Alabama.  “I think being a student athlete is a lot about time management,” Jones said.  “You really have to learn how to balance your time and prioritize the things you think are important.  Personally, I think community service and things of that nature are things I put very high on that list.  I really enjoy doing mission work, in Haiti, especially the last few years.  I think that’s something my parents instilled in me.”
Sam Acho
2010
University of Texas Along with dedicating countless hours to community efforts in Texas, Acho and his family have made several medical mission trips to his father’s and mother’s native country of Nigeria. Once there, they provide free medical care to a small village that has extremely limited access to doctors, and Acho called it “hands-down the most fun and most meaningful piece of community work that I do.”
Tim Hiller
2009
Western Michigan University Hiller joined 23 other college students on a faith-based mission to Trinidad where, among other things, he visited youth prisons and drug clinics and witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of poverty on a nation
Tim Tebow
2008
University of Florida Through his involvement with the University of Florida’s “Goodwill Gators” program, he has made many hospital visits and attended numerous community service functions. In addition, Tebow takes it upon himself to schedule his own hospital visits back in his hometown of Jacksonville, Fla. during his off weekends. He spent his 2008 spring break as a missionary in the Philippines as part of the Bob Tebow Evangelical Association. In April 2008, Tebow organized a flag football tournament to raise awareness for orphans in Gainesville and around the world. Over the next 2 months, he spoke at a business conference in Croatia, was invited by the International Mission Board (IMB) to speak to missionaries in South Asia, and spent time speaking at several prisons across the state of Florida
Paul Smith
2007
University of Tulsa In the community, Smith led talks and visits to local elementary schools and hospitals on behalf of his church and served in leadership and speaking positions for FCA.  He has been named to Dean’s List seven of eight semesters.
Joel Penton
2006
Ohio State University

 Joel is active in FCA, Athletes in Action and Campus Crusade for Christ, volunteering time to local high school chapters.

Penton planned and launched the “Main Event” outreach meeting. He gained commitments from 300 students to volunteer for the event along with members of the OSU Marching Band and Cheerleading Squad. The event drew over 13,000 people.

Rudy Niswanger
2005
Louisiana State University

Niswanger has served many youth groups and volunteered in hospitals as well as Volunteered time at area shelters following Hurricane Katrina, providing emotional support to the survivors and welcome them to Baton Rouge.

Niswanger organized clothing and bedding drive to support the Hurricane Katrina evacuees that were house in the Maddox Field House amongst other outstanding community service efforts.