COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Maryland football defensive lineman Dillan Fontus has been selected as the inaugural winner of the Big Ten Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award. Fontus was presented the award by Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti on Tuesday during a team meeting. Fontus’ mother, Delsina, and Sonya Pankey Robinson, granddaughter of Jackie Robinson, were both in attendance.
The Big Ten Jackie Robinson Award recognizes student-athletes whose significant community service contributions align with Jackie Robinson’s legacy of courage, determination, teamwork, persistence, integrity, citizenship, justice, commitment, and excellence.
Each of the 18 Big Ten member institutions nominated one female and one male student-athlete who serves their campus communities and has demonstrated impact, collaboration and teamwork, consistency, commitment, visibility, and advocacy.
The Big Ten selected one male and one female award winner from the 36 nominations with Fontus being chosen as the male award winner. All other nominees will receive individual awards for their community service efforts.
Fontus's community service work revolves around supporting local youth. The junior defensive lineman has packed lunches for elementary school students and their families with Brighter Bites, read to K-2 classes for Big Ten Reading Week, made motivational videos for young athletes for Twin Bridge Sports and participated in charity walks and weightlifting challenges, among other activities.
“It’s definitely important to be serving this community because I know that there’s a lot of children in this area who aspire to be exactly where I am,” Fontus said. “The fact that I play for the flagship program of this state, we got the whole state on our back. So I really felt it was important to give back to the community that gave so much to me.”
Fontus cited positive experiences from his upbringing as an inspiration to become active in community service during his college years. Fontus grew up involved in the church and would help run events with friends and family in his Brownsville, Brooklyn home community.
“I really got to see firsthand how engaging with the community can impact someone’s life,” Fontus said. “These are things that people don't forget and remember their entire life.”
Known for breaking the color barrier in American professional baseball, Robinson is also remembered for his robust community service and activism. Fontus admired Robinson’s involvement in the community despite having to persevere himself.
“He pushed play on everything else he had going on and was still able to get in the community and help people out,” Fontus said. “Even though he was an elite athlete, playing at the top of his game in every sport he played, he was still able to engage and help make a difference in other people’s lives.”
Fontus expressed a special connection to Robinson and the award because he attended kindergarten on the same block where Robinson’s Brooklyn Dodgers used to play their home games. This proximity to the former location of Ebbets Field means Robinson’s service positively impacted Fontus’ own neighborhood.
“There’s definitely a community tie where it’s just so local,” Fontus added.
Fontus hopes to continue serving others after graduation. He hopes to create a youth football camp and to be an inspiration to others through his charity work.
“I know there were people that were put in my life that put me in the proper position to be where I'm at now,” Fontus said. “I just really want to be, if not that person, something that can lead to someone sparking a passion.”
The Big Ten Jackie Robinson Award recognizes student-athletes whose significant community service contributions align with Jackie Robinson’s legacy of courage, determination, teamwork, persistence, integrity, citizenship, justice, commitment, and excellence.
Each of the 18 Big Ten member institutions nominated one female and one male student-athlete who serves their campus communities and has demonstrated impact, collaboration and teamwork, consistency, commitment, visibility, and advocacy.
The Big Ten selected one male and one female award winner from the 36 nominations with Fontus being chosen as the male award winner. All other nominees will receive individual awards for their community service efforts.
Fontus's community service work revolves around supporting local youth. The junior defensive lineman has packed lunches for elementary school students and their families with Brighter Bites, read to K-2 classes for Big Ten Reading Week, made motivational videos for young athletes for Twin Bridge Sports and participated in charity walks and weightlifting challenges, among other activities.
“It’s definitely important to be serving this community because I know that there’s a lot of children in this area who aspire to be exactly where I am,” Fontus said. “The fact that I play for the flagship program of this state, we got the whole state on our back. So I really felt it was important to give back to the community that gave so much to me.”
Fontus cited positive experiences from his upbringing as an inspiration to become active in community service during his college years. Fontus grew up involved in the church and would help run events with friends and family in his Brownsville, Brooklyn home community.
“I really got to see firsthand how engaging with the community can impact someone’s life,” Fontus said. “These are things that people don't forget and remember their entire life.”
Known for breaking the color barrier in American professional baseball, Robinson is also remembered for his robust community service and activism. Fontus admired Robinson’s involvement in the community despite having to persevere himself.
“He pushed play on everything else he had going on and was still able to get in the community and help people out,” Fontus said. “Even though he was an elite athlete, playing at the top of his game in every sport he played, he was still able to engage and help make a difference in other people’s lives.”
Fontus expressed a special connection to Robinson and the award because he attended kindergarten on the same block where Robinson’s Brooklyn Dodgers used to play their home games. This proximity to the former location of Ebbets Field means Robinson’s service positively impacted Fontus’ own neighborhood.
“There’s definitely a community tie where it’s just so local,” Fontus added.
Fontus hopes to continue serving others after graduation. He hopes to create a youth football camp and to be an inspiration to others through his charity work.
“I know there were people that were put in my life that put me in the proper position to be where I'm at now,” Fontus said. “I just really want to be, if not that person, something that can lead to someone sparking a passion.”
