Wayne State University junior Gabe Zeldes was selected as one of ten male honorees for the Allstate NACDA Good Works Team, according to a May 5 announcement. The team recognizes student-athletes across collegiate spring sports for achievements in community service, athletics, and academics.
The recognition highlights the importance of student-athletes’ roles beyond competition, focusing on their contributions to local communities and academic excellence. The Wayne State Warriors Men’s Baseball program competes in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference at the NCAA Division II level and plays its home games in Detroit, Michigan, according to the official website.
Zeldes has played in 91 career games with season-highs this year in runs, hits, doubles, and home runs. Academically, he majors in Exercise and Sport Science with minors in Business Administration and Public Health. He earned Athletic Director’s Honor Roll recognition his first four semesters—including a perfect term GPA—and will receive both the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award and GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team honors again this year.
His community involvement includes serving as Vice President of Wayne State’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), membership in Delta Epsilon Mu fraternity for health-related fields, representing GLIAC National SAAC, winning an Undergraduate Research award (UROP), and donating over 250 hours through activities such as toy drives at DMC Children’s Hospital, swimming programs for children with special needs (Happy Lab), book donations (Making Spirits Bright), cancer research fundraising with Detroit Lions raffles, Gleaners Food Bank volunteering, boxes/shoes drives, Make-A-Wish engagement efforts with youth peers via campus SAAC initiatives.
Chris DeBiase of Allstate said: “Allstate has long believed in the power of college athletics to shape leaders. We are proud to recognize these spring honorees who are demonstrating exceptional leadership and impact through community service… Service is leadership and we want to reward and empower the young people who prove it every day.” Holly Rowe from ESPN added: “Programs like the Allstate NACDA Good Works Team make sure service and leadership are recognized alongside athletic excellence… I’m proud to help highlight student-athletes who rise to meet the needs of their communities.” Pat Manak from NACDA said: “The Allstate NACDA Good Works Team initiative continues to bring out the best in college athletics… it is a privilege to tell their stories.”
The full roster features men’s baseball players like Zeldes among athletes from rowing, volleyball, track & field across all divisions. The initiative began last year recognizing over 500 nominees annually; past honorees include those leading foundations or supporting causes such as Special Olympics or cancer research fundraisers.
