Bloomington Leader

Sudfeld Selected Big Ten Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian Award Winner

 Indian record-setting quarterback and NFL veteran Nate Sudfeld was named the Big Ten Conference's recipient of the Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian award on Monday (Nov. 28), as announced by the Conference office.

 

Sudfeld is the third Hoosier to earn the award, joining George Taliaferro (2011) and Trent Green (2016). Along with the Humanitarian Award, the IU duo of Antwan Randle El (2018) and Doug Schlereth (2019) have each earned the Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award from the conference office.

 

A three-year starter and four-year letterwinner, Sudfeld ended his career as one of the most decorated quarterbacks in Indiana history. He left IU ranked No. 1 in passing touchdowns (61), passing yardage (7,879), 350-yard games (6), 300-yard games (11), 250-yard games (13), 200-yard games (19), four-touchdown games (5), and three-touchdown games (10). He was tied for first in 400-yard games (1), second in completion percentage (60.3) and completions (593), third in total offense (8,011) and fourth in attempts (983) on IU's career lists in 37 games (26 starts).

 

In his career, he was 593-of-983 (60.3 percent) with 7,879 passing yards, 8,011 total yards, 61 passing TDs, 20 INTs, eight rushing scores, and a 144.1 passing efficiency mark, which ranked No, 9 in Big Ten history upon his graduation. He was a third-team All-Big Ten pick by the conference's media and coaches as a senior, a finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy and Senior CLASS Award, a team captain as a senior, and a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.

 

In his seventh year in the NFL, Sudfeld was drafted by the Washington Commanders in the sixth round as the 187th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He has spent seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles (2017-20) and the San Francisco 49ers (2021). On Aug. 31, 2022, Sudfeld was signed by the Detroit Lions.

 

Sudfeld spends his time off the field working with several charities, including AIDS Orphans Education Trust Health Centre (AOET), New Dawn Africa Foundation, Assist International, and the Sewing Hope Foundation.

 

Located in Jinja, Uganda, AIDS Orphans Education Trust Health Centre (AOET) provides education, health, and child welfare programs that impact over 4,000 children every day. Alongside Assist International, Sudfeld has partnered with The AOET Children's Village to support Ugandan orphans and their foster families. Alongside his brothers, Zach Sudfeld and Matt Sudfeld, Nate has also facilitated sports camps for orphan children, hosting programs for football, basketball, soccer, and volleyball. In 2018 and 2019, Nate was the sponsor for a sports camp for hundreds of children at AOET and for children from other schools in the Jinja area.

 

Over the last two years, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented many foster families from meeting their daily food needs. Sudfeld generously provided immediate assistance by distributing a supply of emergency food and hygiene items to the families and children across AOET's programs.

 

New Dawn Africa Foundation in Entebbe, Uganda, addresses the needs of some of the most vulnerable people in their region, especially those affected by HIV/AIDS and families with children who have HIV. Since 2019, Sudfeld has supported New Dawn as it implements a wide range of programs. These include a nutrition plan for mothers and infants, a counseling program for people living with HIV/AIDS, and educational and farming initiatives. To help offset the impact of the pandemic, Sudfeld generously contributed towards catalyzing New Dawn's farming initiatives and empowering team members to deliver critical HIV medication to families unable to access their medication in lockdown, as well as supply emergency food for families in the community.

 

In 2021, Assist International joined Navajo Nation leadership, Chapter officials, and a team of partner organizations to catalyze health initiatives that improve access to nutritious food and water for Navajo families. Sudfeld has championed these efforts by supporting Assist International's Alliance for Navajo Sustainability program, working to improve agriculture, WASH (water, sanitation & hygiene), and sustainable business enterprises for Navajo communities.

 

The Sewing Hope Children's Village in Atiak, Uganda, provides homes for orphan children and young women who were abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) or facing hardship and poverty. Sudfeld has supported Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe's vision to provide housing, education, and care for orphaned children, young women, and refugees in Northern Uganda. Over the past two years, Nate sponsored Sewing Hope's emergency food distribution and farming initiatives to combat severe effects of hunger and malnutrition facing their region, due to the effects of locust plagues and recent lockdowns. Sudfeld went on his first trip to help Sister Rosemary and her work in Atiak in 2015 while on Spring Break at IU during the building of the first orphan home; he came back to volunteer at the Sewing Hope Children's Home in Atiak in 2018 and 2019 and has been supporting the efforts to combat food scarcity in 2020 and 2021.

Original source can be found here.