Full List of Nominees

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Illinois Wesleyan University softball senior Caroline Gatchell (Grayslake, Ill.-Carmel Catholic) was named to the Allstate NACDA Good Works Spring Team list of nominees Thursday afternoon, April 9. Gatchell was one of nearly 140 student-athlete nominees, male and female, across NCAA Division I, II, and III to be recognized and the only College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin nominee. 

The Allstate NACDA Good Works Team recognizes 60 student-athletes annually across fall, winter and spring seasons alongside hundreds of nominees. Those recognized on the list span all divisions, and go above and beyond in their commitment to community service, academic achievement, and athletic performance. A distinguished selection committee of athletics directors, former athletes and industry leaders will choose the final 20-member team - 10 female and 10 male student-athletes - with the final team announced at the end of this month.

Gatchell has made the most of her Division III student-athlete experience, being involved in several areas of campus while balancing time commitments as a student-athlete. Gatchell has served as a cabinet member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for two years before assuming the role of president during her senior year. Not only has Gatchell overseen initiatives that previously existed, like Polar Plunge, she has brought new ideas and elevated fundraising efforts to raise money for St. Jude, Special Olympics, and other partners of SAAC. 

Gatchell has served as the vice president of recruitment for her sorority. She has been so successful in the role, that she was selected to attend the leadership summit for her sorority two years in a row. Additionally, Gatchell has been incredibly involved in the athletic communications office throughout her years, springboarding into two marketing internships in the community. Gatchell helps in athletic communications in whatever ways she can, going above and beyond to better the student-athlete experience of others. Gatchell participated in the CSC/NCAA Division III Student Program in 2025 and was selected to attend the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum later the same year.

A four-year pitcher on the Titan softball team, Gatchell has been a key part of 95 wins, three CCIW regular season titles, and two CCIW tournament championships. She was named CCIW Pitcher of the Week on May 5, 2025 and currently has 159.1 innings of work during her career and 118 career strikeouts. 

About the Allstate NACDA Good Works Team: The Allstate NACDA Good Works Team was established in 2024 to recognize male and female student-athletes across all collegiate sports and divisions for their leadership in community service, academics and athletics. Building on the legacy of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, which has honored college football players since 1992, this expanded initiative highlights the impact of student-athletes who go beyond the game to serve others.
 
About NACDA: Now in its 61st year, NACDA is the professional and educational Association for more than 23,000 college athletics administrators at more than 2,300 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. NACDA manages 19 professional associations and four foundations. In addition to virtual programming, NACDA hosts and/or has a presence at seven major professional development events in-person annually. The NACDA & Affiliates Convention is the largest gathering of collegiate athletics administrators in the country. For more information, visit www.nacda.com.