Adam Kiel
Northern Illinois University offensive lineman Adam Kiel is one of 112 student-athletes from across the country at all levels of college football under consideration for a place on the 2010 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
This year’s group of nominees is the most ever in the 19-year history of the award. The 22-member team honors those student-athletes that have made a positive impact on their communities. Two 11-player Good Works Teams – one comprised of players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and another representing players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and the NAIA – will be announced in September.
“Adam is a young man that excels on and off the field,” NIU head coach Jerry Kill said. “When it comes to community service, a lot of kids you have to tell them to do it or provide incentive like points or a competition. Adam does it because he likes it. He truly does it because he wants to give back and cares about people.”
Kiel, a junior from Wentzville, Mo., has emerged as the leader of the Northern Illinois University football program’s community service efforts. He serves as the unofficial liaison for the football team with the Huskie CHAMPS/Life Skills office and encourages his teammates to sign up for various community service activities.
While Kiel participates in nearly all of the community service efforts himself, which range from working with local elementary schools to campus groups, the St. Dominic High School product ensures that the NIU football team is represented at every event. He was one of four nominees for the Community Service Award presented to one male student-athlete at the Huskies’ all-sports banquet this past spring.
Kiel is also a leader within the Northern Illinois Athletics community. He was recently elected the Vice-President of NIU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for 2010-11 and was also nominated by the Mid-American Conference SAAC to represent the league at the national SAAC Convention.
On the field, Kiel started 11 games at offensive tackle for Northern Illinois in 2009 until he was sidelined by a foot injury. The accountancy major carries a 3.2 GPA into the 2010-11 year.
Six student-athletes from the Mid-American Conference are nominated for consideration to the 2010 Allstate Good Works Team. Joining Kiel are Ben Bojicic of Bowling Green; Central Michigan’s Brian Bennyhoff; Amara Kamara of Temple; Toledo’s Colin McHugh and Nick Mitchell of Western Michigan.
Former NIU wide receiver Matt Simon became the first Huskie to earn a spot on the prestigious team when he was named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team in 2008.
