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List of Allstate NABC Good Works Nominees
INDIANAPOLIS – The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and Allstate Insurance Company announced Tuesday the 20 student-athletes named to the 2015 Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams®. Santa Clara men's basketball forward Dominic Romeo was one of five Division I players named to the prestigious list. The 158 Allstate NABC Good Works nominees were announced in December, 2014.
For the third year, this prestigious award pays tribute to college basketball players at all levels for their impressive commitment to giving back to their communities and positively impacting the lives of those around them. From improving environmental sustainability on college campuses to helping impoverished communities overseas, the service accomplishments of this year's team are some of the most impressive to date. There were 158 nominees this year for the NABC.
Members of the Allstate NABC Good Works Team® will be invited by Allstate, an official corporate partner of the NCAA, to the 2015 NABC Convention and 2015 NCAA Men's Final Four® in Indianapolis, where they will participate in a community project benefitting the host city. Members of the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® will be recognized during the 2015 WBCA Convention and at the 2015 NCAA Women's Final Four® in Tampa, and will also participate in a local community project. Allstate is an official corporate partner of the NABC, WBCA and NCAA.
In his first season as a walk-on forward with the Broncos after graduating from Notre Dame in 2014, Romeo is working on his Master's degree in Theology. He graduated magna cum laude from UND in 2014 with a double major in Chinese and Political Science. He was a walk-on defensive end for the Fighting Irish football team (2012 season). As an undergrad he spent time volunteering in Honduras, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and the United State's Appalachian region. He also traveled to China three times and wrote his senior thesis on grassroots Democratic movements in rural China. Proficient in Mandarin Chinese, he was president of Notre Dame's Political Science Honors Society and founded Notre Dame's first-ever Chinese Language Club. His career goal is to be a medical doctor in a developing country.
"Dom is as unique an individual as we have had in our program in the last eight years. His desire to learn, grow and share his experiences has been a great addition to our young team this season," said Bronco head coach Kerry Keating. "Dom balances both his academic and athletic responsibilities with unusual flair. It's rare for a fifth year player to be as supportive as he has been with our team this season – he has been a terrific role model for all of us. We look forward to having him involved with our program in years to come."
"It is a truly a special privilege to have been selected to receive this honor. The Good Works Team consists of basketball players who are dedicated to making a difference in their community both locally and globally, and to be considered among this incredible group of people is a blessing," said Romeo, a Turlock, Calif. native. "While we live in a world that is increasingly developed and interconnected, there are also many who do not have the same privileges and opportunities that I have been bestowed with. I hope in dedicating my life to service, that I am able to give back to some of those who have might not have been given as much me, while simultaneously embracing the reciprocity of such action that comes in the form of exciting new experiences and relationships.
Romeo is also thrilled about the opportunity that lies ahead in Indianapolis. "I look forward to going to Indianapolis and participating in the community service project at the Final Four. I have come to learn and appreciate that some of my best relationships are born in environments where I am surrounded by diverse peoples who challenge my perspective. My time of service in Indianapolis with these teammates will be just this type of growth experience, and I really look forward to it!"
The Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams® are each comprised of 10 student-athletes; five from NCAA® Division I and five from NCAA Divisions II, III and the NAIA. Nominations were submitted by sports information directors and coaches at colleges and universities across the country, and a record total of 158 nominees from the NABC were announced in early December 2014.
Distinguished voting panels comprised of former coaches, college basketball legends and media members narrowed down the outstanding submissions to the final two teams. Leading the voting panels for their respective teams were former Duke University student-athlete, two-time NCAA champion and seven-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill and WNBA basketball star and University of Tennessee legend Tamika Catchings.
"Community service and giving back are an integral part of Allstate's core values, and recognizing the NABC and WBCA Good Works Team® for their commitment in this area is one of the efforts we are most proud of," said Pam Hollander, vice president of marketing for Allstate Insurance Company and a member of the 2015 NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams® selection panels. "In our third year partnering with the NABC and WBCA, we could not be more honored to have a role in recognizing truly deserving young athletes who encourage all of us to make a positive impact on those around us."
The Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams® have made it their mission to protect the integrity of the sport by highlighting the "good works'" that occur after the final buzzer. In addition to being college athletes and full-time students, these 20 young men and women have dedicated their invaluable free time to making a difference in the world around them. They each boast a long list of remarkable accolades that serve to inspire fans and communities across the nation.
"The WBCA is extremely excited to continue its partnership with Allstate in showing appreciation for these student-athletes who take time to invest in and further their respective communities," said WBCA executive director Danielle Donehew. "Congratulations to these outstanding 10 student-athletes who have helped make a difference and will continue to be leaders on and off the basketball court."
"The NABC is proud to partner with Allstate as we celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of the men and women selected for the 2015 Good Works Teams," said Jim Haney, executive director of the NABC. "This group represents the best of the best of more than 250 student-athletes nominated this year. Each has made significant contributions to improve the quality of life in our world today."
The following players have been named to the 2015 Allstate NABC Good Works Team®:
| NCAA D I | ||||
| Name | Cl. | Pos. | School | Hometown |
| Kevin Alter | Sr. | Guard | U.S. Naval Academy | Rumson, N.J. |
| Malcolm Brogdon | Jr. | Guard | University of Virginia | Atlanta, Ga. |
| Jordan Green | Sr. | Guard | Texas A&M University | Flower Mound Texas |
| Michael Obacha | Jr. | Forward | Appalachian State University | Edo State, Nigeria |
| Dominic Romeo | Graduate | Forward | Santa Clara University | Turlock, Calif. |
| NCAA D II & III | ||||
| Name | Cl. | Pos. | School | Hometown |
| Rob Anderson | Jr. | Guard | California Institute of Technology | Orono, Minn. |
| Karl Barkley | Sr. | Guard | Swathmore College | Davidsom, N.C. |
| Justin Kohlman | Sr. | Guard | Belmont Abbey College | Pontra Vedra, Fla. |
| Sam Pugh | Sr. | Guard | Pittsburg State University | Branson, Mo. |
| Joel Redfoot | Sr. | Forward | Penn State Altoona | Hollidaysburg, Pa. |
The following players have been named to the 2015 Allstate WBCA Good Works Team®:
| NCAA D I | ||||
| Name | Cl. | Pos. | School | Hometown |
| Kyndal Clark | Sr. | Guard | Drake University | Webb City, Mo. |
| Alex Cohen | Sr. | Forward/Ctr. | Northwestern University | Bayside, Wis. |
| Bria Goss | Sr. | Guard | University of Kentucky | Indianapolis, Ind. |
| Stephanie Leon | Sr. | Center | University of Deleware | Newport, N.Y. |
| Devon Roeper | Soph. | Forward | Columbia Univeristy | San Diego, Calif. |
| NCAA D II & III | ||||
| Name | Cl. | Pos. | School | Hometown |
| Kathryn Clark | Jr. | Guard | Johns Hopkins University | Murrieta, Calif. |
| Jasmine DeBerry | Sr. | Guard | Wingate University | Charlotte, N.C. |
| Megan Whittaker | Sr. | Guard | Loyola University New Orleans | Cumming, Ga. |
| Shanteona Keys | Sr. | Guard/Fwd. | Georgia Colleg & State University | Roswell, Ga. |
| Lea Sobieraski | Sr. | Forward | State Univ. of New York at Geneseo |
Lockport, N.Y.
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In addition to Hollander, Hill and Catchings, the 2015 Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams® selection panel members include: former college basketball student-athletes Mateen Cleaves (Michigan State) and Alana Beard (Duke); former head coaches Bobby Cremins (College of Charleston), Seth Greenberg (Virginia Tech), Marsha Sharp (Texas Tech) and Nell Fortner (Auburn); current college basketball coach Coquese Washington (Penn State); and media members Seth Davis (Sports Illustrated/CBS), Dana O'Neil (ESPN), Carolyn Peck (ESPN) and LaChina Robinson (ESPN/FOX).
Since 2008, Allstate has worked with the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) as sponsor of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, which shines a spotlight on the positive, off-the-field impact college football student-athletes have on their communities. Through an arrangement with the AFCA, NABC and WBCA, Allstate is able to expand the Good Works Team® to also recognize college basketball student-athletes at all levels who donate their time and effort to making a difference off the court.
More information about the Allstate NABC Good Works Team® and the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® is available at www.nabc.org and www.wbca.org.
About Allstate®
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, protecting approximately 16 million households from life's uncertainties through its Allstate, Encompass, Esurance and Answer Financial brand names and Allstate Financial business segment. Allstate is widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®." The Allstate brand's network of small businesses offers auto, home, life and retirement products and services to customers in the United States and Canada. In 2013, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners gave $29 million to support local communities. Allstate employees and agency owners donated 200,000 hours of service across the country.
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