Fiesta Sports Foundation

ACDA AND THE FIESTA SPORTS FOUNDATION

NACDA Community Service Award presented by Fiesta Bowl

This award has been created by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletes (NACDA) and is sponsored by Fiesta Bowl to recognize outstanding community service efforts for NACDA Division I member institutions. 

NACDA and Fiesta Bowl award a trophy to the winning institution.

Past Award Winners:

2025: Boston College
2024: San Jose State University
2023: Iowa State University
2022: Ohio State University
2021: Georgia Tech
2020: Vanderbilt University
2019: Boston College
2018: University of Southern California
2017: University of Maryland

---

The McLendon Scholarship presented by Fiesta Sports Foundation

Beginning in 2017, the Fiesta Sports Foundation has sponsored the John McLendon Minority Postgraduate Scholarship awarded each year to a student from an Arizona based four-year institution who meets the scholarship criteria.

Past Award Winners:

2024: Kennedy Smith - Smith graduated from La Roche University with a bachelor of arts degree in marketing and business management in May 2021, where he was a basketball student-athlete and served as a team captain. Smith is in the process of completing his masters in sports law and business from Arizona State University.

2023: Deontre Winston II - Winston II received a bachelor of arts degree in sports business from Arizona State University in May 2023. During his time as an undergraduate, he was an active member of African American Men at ASU (AAMASU) and served as president and dean of membership for Mu Eta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Winston II also participated in the 2021 Arizona Diamondbacks for Change Mentorship Program, the 2022 Marcus Graham Project with the Phoenix Suns and the 2022-23 RISE Super Bowl Leadership Program. Winston II is interested in pursuing a masters in sports law and business from Arizona State.

2022: Airiana Smith - Smith received a bachelor of arts degree in legal studies with a minor in criminal justice and African American studies from the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) in 2021, where she was a member of the women's basketball team. Since 2017, she has served as a U.S. Army Reserve Platoon Leader, honing transferrable critical thinking skills and making sound leadership decisions in high pressure environments. After her time at UIS, Smith worked as an athletics department internal operations and compliance intern at Saint Louis University. She plans to pursue a master's degree in sports law and business from The Allan "Bud" Selig Sports Law and Business program at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University with an anticipated graduation date of May 2024. 

2021: Kurt Russell - Russell received a bachelor's degree from Ohio University's College of Business, ending with a 3.6 GPA. In the spring of 2021 he was awarded both the Outstanding Senior Leader Award and the Ohio University College of Business Suit & Tie Award. In the fall, he plans to continue his education at Arizona State University to obtain a Juris Doctor and Master of Sport Management. 

2020: Sophia Elenga - Elenga earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Arizona State University (ASU), majoring in sport journalism and maintaining a 3.14 GPA. In 2014, she was the U20 European Women's Basketball Champion, while playing on the French National Team. Elenga then went on to play basketball at Arizona State, where she was a three-time Sun Devil Scholar-Athlete. In the fall, she plans to pursue a degree in sports law at Arizona State University.

2019: Naomi Eastland - Eastland earned a bachelor's degree in athletic training from Eastern Washington University, while maintaining a 3.76 GPA. Eastland served as the Eastern Washington University women's club basketball president and the athletic training clubs community service chair. In 2018, she was named the Eastern Washington's Club sports female Athlete of the Year. A multiple-time Dean's List selection Eastland was named a Leadership 1000 Scholarship Award recipient. Is currently pursuing a master's in educational leadership at Northern Arizona University.

2018: Markel Leonard - Leonard graduated with a bachelor's degree in rhetoric and media studies from Lewis & Clark College. A two-time captain on the men's basketball team, Leonard also worked internships in the athletics department assisting in the compliance and athletics communications offices as an undergrad. Leonard's ultimate goal for continuing his education is to empower the next generation of minority students from poverty-ridden areas. He hopes to teach kids growing up in inner cities to use their mind, critical thinking skills and education to escape poverty and realize their individual potential. Leonard plans to attend Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law with an intended major in sports law and business.

2017: Mia Mazon - Mazon is a graduate of Arizona State University where she earned a bachelor of arts in communication with a minor in media analysis. A member of the indoor and sand volleyball teams, Mazon served as a captain for the Sun Devils indoor squad for the 2016 season. While at Arizona State, she was named a Scholar-Baller by the ASU athletics department for holding a grade point average of over 3.0 every semester. Through the Scholar-Baller program, Mazon served as a mentor at Cesar Chavez High School, teaching students from low-income families the benefits of a college education. Graduating with a cumulative GPA of 3.57, she was a named to the Dean's List five times and is a recipient of the Arthur Ashe Jr. Award. She has volunteered with Chicanos Por La Causa and the Hispanic Women's Corporation. Mazon plans to pursue a post-graduate degree in athletics administration with hopes of working in public relations or communications.

.