Rico Hallman, a cornerback on the UW football team, and Erin Connolly, a midfielder on the UW women’s soccer team, have been named as the school’s nominees for the Big Ten Conference 2025-26 Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award, the conference office announced Wednesday.
Now in its second year, the honor was created to recognize Big Ten student-athletes who strive to have a positive impact within their community in addition to excellence in competition.
“The Big Ten Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award celebrates Jackie’s legacy of excellence in community service,” said Sonya Pankey Robinson, Jackie’s first grandchild, as well as director and board member of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, in a press release. “We are proud to recognize 36 outstanding men and women for the incredible impact they make in their community.”
In recognition of their achievement and as an expression of the conference’s appreciation, each of the 36 campus winners will receive a medal bearing the likeness of Jackie Robinson and the logo of the Big Ten Conference.
“Our student-athletes make significant contributions through competition, academics, and community impact,” said Omar Brown, Big Ten senior vice president of community & impact. “This award allows the Big Ten to recognize these efforts in improving communities, just as we do with their other athletic and academic achievements. Jackie Robinson embodies this award and our goal to honor student-athletes who positively affect others.”
