Senior punter one of only 11 Football Bowl Subdivision players honored for outstanding community service achievements
LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky senior punter Landon Foster has been named to the 2015 Allstate AFCA (American Football Coaches Association) Good Works Team®. Landon is one of 22 student-athletes selected, including one of just 11 Football Bowl Subdivision players, honored for making a positive impact on others and their communities.
In its 24th year, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® is comprised of athletes who have used their limited free time to perform inspirational acts of service while maintaining a strong academic standing. This summer, the program received an all-time record high 197 nominations from colleges and universities across the country.
Foster, a native of Franklin, Tenn., has been very involved in community service projects during his time at Kentucky. In May of 2014, he represented UK Football on a week-long community service trip to Ethiopia where he interacted with residents of impoverished communities, visited imprisoned men, helped widows, cared for orphans, and helped renovate houses. On the trip, he befriended a 14-year-old boy living in the streets of Korah named Dejene. He was so moved by the boy’s resilience and character to succeed despite his circumstances that Foster worked through an organization called “Adoption Ministry of Youth with a Mission” to pay out of his own pocket to sponsor Dejene. He sent his own money for four months to help pay for his food, clothing, shelter and schooling until Dejene (now named Joshua) was able to move to America with a family from North Carolina.
Foster’s other community service activities include being a frequent visitor to Indian Summer Camp, a cancer survivor camp for kids ages 6-11. He volunteers to speak at local elementary schools and other summer camps and he has taken blankets to Kentucky Children’s Hospital and served as a “Breakfast with Santa” volunteer during Christmas, helping Santa Claus pass out presents.
Foster also excels in the classroom. He was named Academic All-America second team by the College Sports Information Directors of America in 2014 and is a three-time Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll Member. Set to graduate with a major in finance in May of 2015, Foster maintains a 3.97 grade point average.
The SEC leads all conferences with 65 selections to the Good Works Team since it began in 1992. Foster is the 13th player in UK history to be named to the team, including second straight. Former Wildcat center Max Godby was named to the prestigious team last season. UK ranks tied for third all-time with St. Thomas (Minn.) in award winners behind Georgia (16) and Nebraska (14).
Vote Foster as the Team Captain
Kentucky fans can vote for the 2015 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® Captain at ESPN.com/Allstate through Nov. 25, 2015. The Team Captain and his fellow award recipients will be invited to New Orleans to participate in a community project before the 2016 Allstate® Sugar Bowl®.
Use this link to vote: http://bit.ly/Vote4Landon
The following players have been selected to the 2015 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®:
NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (I-A)
Name Cl. Pos. School Hometown
Jonathan Wallace Sr. WR Auburn University Phenix City, Ala.
Trent Matthews Sr. S Colorado State University Converse, Texas
Kelby Brown Sr. LB Duke University Matthews, N.C.
Malcolm Mitchell Sr. SE University of Georgia Valdosta, Ga.
Landon Foster Sr. P University of Kentucky Franklin, Tenn.
Deon Bush Sr. S University of Miami (Fla.) Miami, Fla.
Myer Krah Sr. OLB United States Naval Academy Durham, N.C.
Joshua Perry Sr. LB The Ohio State University Galena, Ohio
Ben Kline GS/Sr. LB Penn State University Silver Valley, Pa.
James Conner Jr. RB University of Pittsburgh Erie, Pa.
Driphus Jackson Sr. QB Rice University Cedar Hill, Texas
NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA), Divisions II, III and NAIA
Name Cl. Pos. School Hometown
Billy Baker Sr. DL Aurora University Oswego, Ill.
Matt Mehlhorn Sr. DB Bethel (Minn.) University Lakeville, Minn.
Jacob Wassenaar Sr. TE Central (Iowa) College Pella, Iowa
Seth Hiddink Jr. K University of Central OklahomaWylie, Texas
Vincent Beltrano Sr. DB The University of Chicago Wood Dale, Ill.
Lucas Romick Sr. LB Denison University Lebanon, Ohio
Liam Nadler Sr. QB Gannon University Leipsic, Ohio
Dalton Screws Jr. WR Jacksonville State University Anniston, Ala.
David Porter Sr. DL John Carroll University Westlake, Ohio
Dayo Idowu Sr. LB University of North Dakota Woodbury, Minn.
Nick Chiocco Sr. DE Stonehill College Mansfield, Mass.
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