Indianapolis, IN -- St. Francis Brooklyn women's basketball senior Sarah Benedetti was announced as a 2015 Allstate Good Works Team Nominee. This adds to her already impressive off-the-court resume. Benedetti is a three-time Northeast Conference Winter Academic Honor Roll and a Three-Time Northeast Conference Winter Commissoner's Honor Roll Member. She holds the prestigious honor of being on the Dun Scotus Honor Roll, along with being a 2012-12 Capital One Women's Basketball Academic All-District First Team member.

Press Release

The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), and Allstate Insurance Company today announced the 251 nominees for the 2015 Allstate WBCA and NABC Good Works Teams®. This prestigious community service award recognizes a distinguished group of student-athletes who have demonstrated a commitment to enriching the lives of others and contributing to the greater good in their communities.

College sports information directors and basketball coaches across the country nominated players who exhibit exceptional leadership skills and an unwavering commitment to volunteerism. From the 93 WBCA nominees and 158 NABC nominees, distinguished voting panels will select two 10-member teams comprised of five student-athletes from the NCAA® Division I level and five student-athletes from NCAA Divisions II, III and the NAIA. The final roster of 20 award recipients will be unveiled in February.

"The accomplishments of student-athletes extend far beyond successes achieved on the court, and Allstate is proud to recognize this exceptional group of young women and men for the positive impact they are making in their communities," said Pam Hollander, vice president of marketing for Allstate Insurance Company and a member of the 2015 WBCA and NABC Good Works Teams® selection panels. "Their stories of powerful and selfless acts, shared by SIDs and coaches across the nation, represent the best of collegiate student-athletes and serve as an inspiration to us all."

For the third year, the Allstate WBCA and NABC Good Works Teams® help spotlight the off-the-court good works and service to others that often goes unnoticed and unrewarded. From creating organizations benefitting at-risk youth to volunteering overseas to help impoverished communities, there are countless remarkable stories of service among this year's group of nominees. As full-time students and athletes, these players choose to dedicate their limited free time to improving the lives of those around them.

"The Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® is a prominent award that honors those student-athletes who serve the community," said Danielle Donehew, executive director of the WBCA.  "We celebrate the commitment these 93 nominees have made to their respective communities and we are grateful to Allstate for recognizing these individuals for their exceptional efforts." 

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 Bay, and will also participate in a local community project. Allstate is an official corporate partner of the WBCA, NABC and NCAA.

"In this third year of the Allstate NABC Good Works Team® program, we had an overwhelming response with 158 nominations for 2015," said NABC Executive Director Jim Haney. "There are so many young men and women in college basketball today who make extraordinary and selfless contributions locally, nationally and globally. This is a tremendous opportunity to not only recognize the best of the best but honor all of these student-athletes for their achievements away from the court."

Former Duke University student-athlete, two-time NCAA champion and seven-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill will headline the Allstate NABC Good Works Team® voting panel, while WNBA basketball star Tamika Catchings, who played at the University of Tennessee, will serve on the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® panel. In addition to Hollander, Hill and Catchings, the 2015 Allstate WBCA and NABC Good Works Teams® selection panel members include: former college basketball student-athletes Greg Anthony (UNLV), 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, WBCA and NABC, Allstate has been able to expand the Good Works Team® to also recognize college basketball student-athletes at all levels who donate their time and effort to make a difference off the court.

More information about the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® and the Allstate NABC Good Works Team® is available at www.wbca.org and www.nabc.org.

The following players have been nominated for consideration to be named to the 2015 Allstate WBCA Good Works Team®:

NCAA Division I
Arizona State University – Sophie Brunner
Bradley University – Fantasia Vine
Campbell University – Juli Osborne
Colgate University – Carole Harris
College of the Holy Cross – Raquel Scott
College of William & Mary – Kyla Kerstetter
Columbia University – Devon Roeper
Drake University – Kyndal Clark
Duke University – Elizabeth Williams
East Carolina University – Abria Trice
Florida State University – Emiah Bingley
Georgetown University – Ki-Ke Rafiu
Georgia Institute of Technology – Kaela Davis
Harvard University – AnnMarie Healy
Manhattan College – Jacqui Thompson
Marist College – Maggie Gallagher
Mississippi State University – Savannah Carter
North Carolina State University – Ashley Eli
Northwestern University – Alex Cohen
Oakland University – Elena Popkey
Penn State University – Tori Waldner
Pepperdine University – Bria Richardson
Quinnipiac University – Jasmine Martin
Rice University – Christal Porter
Rider University – Marritta Gillcrease
Saint Louis University – Desirae Ball
Seattle University – Renee Dillard-Brown
South Dakota State University – Megan Stuart
St. Francis College – Sarah Benedetti
Stephen F. Austin State University – Brittney Matthew
Stony Brook University – Brittany Snow
Texas Tech University – Minta Spears
Tulane University – Jamie Kaplan
University of Alabama – Nikki Hegstetter
University of Colorado – Jasmine Sborov
University of Delaware – Stephanie Leon
University of Denver – Theresa Wirth
University of Florida – Kayla Lewis
University of Iowa – Kali Peschel
University of Kentucky – Bria Goss
University of Maine – Elizabeth Wood
University of Maryland, Baltimore County – Pandora Wilson
University of Michigan – Nicole Elmblad
University of Nevada – Julia Shelbourn
University of New Mexico – Antiesha Brown
University of Pittsburgh – Brianna Kiesel
University of South Carolina – Elem Ibiam
University of Tennessee – Cierra Burdick
University of Toledo – Sophie Reecher
University of Utah – Danielle Rodriguez
University of Virginia – Sarah Beth Barnette
University of Wisconsin – Michala Johnson
Vanderbilt University – Kendall Shaw
West Virginia University – Averee Fields
Western Kentucky University – Alexis Govan
Wichita State University – Alex Harden