DePaul University Athletics
Olivia Austin, Jaiden Gary Nominated to AllState NACDA Good Works Team
1/13/2026 2:00:00 PM | ATHLETICS, TRACK AND FIELD, DEVELOPING & EQUIPPING FUTURE LEADERS
Pair honored for service beyond the field
CHICAGO – DePaul track and field student-athletes Jaiden Gary and Olivia Austin were nominated for the 2025-26 Winter Allstate National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Good Works Team (Winter), NACDA announced Tuesday morning.
The Allstate NACDA Good Works Team recognizes student-athletes across all collegiate sports and divisions who demonstrate outstanding commitment to community service, academic achievement and athletic excellence. A total of 180 winter student-athletes were nominated nationwide. A selection committee will select the final 20-member team, consisting of 10 male and 10 female student-athletes, to be announced in early February.
Austin, a junior thrower, has been a consistent scorer for the Blue Demons across both indoor and outdoor seasons. In 2024-25, she recorded season bests of 12.21m in the shot put, 14.74m in the weight throw, 44.97m in the discus, and 48.46m in the hammer throw. Austin earned a fifth-place finish in the hammer throw at the BIG EAST Outdoor Championships and placed third in the discus at the Gary Wieneke Memorial. She is also a recipient of the Jarrod Jahnke Memorial Endowed Scholarship.
Austin has demonstrated a strong commitment to service through her involvement with Team IMPACT, volunteering at the Chicagoland Team IMPACT 5K held Oct. 26 at Montrose Beach Track. She assisted with event setup, ran alongside Team IMPACT athletes, and encouraged participants of all ages and abilities along the course. The event served as a major fundraiser, with the Chicagoland Team IMPACT community raising $222,007. Austin has also volunteered with Catholic Charities at the St. Vincent Center at DePaul, helping prepare and serve meals while engaging directly with members of Chicago's urban community.
Gary, a sophomore thrower, has established himself as one of the BIG EAST's top performers in the shot put. During the 2024-25 season, he swept both the BIG EAST Indoor and Outdoor shot put titles, recording a season-best mark of 18.58m indoors at the Badgers Midwest Invite and 18.28m outdoors at the NCAA West First Round. He also earned a bronze medal in the discus at the BIG EAST Outdoor Championships and qualified for the NCAA West First Round, consistently placing among the conference's elite across multiple throwing events.
Off the track, Gary has been active in community service efforts throughout Chicago. He volunteered with Catholic Charities at the St. Vincent Center at DePaul, assisting with the preparation and serving of community meals in a sit-down, restaurant-style setting while engaging with individuals and families. Gary also participated in Green Sports Day, an annual initiative promoting sustainability in athletics. Through DePaul's partnership with the Marillac St. Vincent Center, he helped distribute sustainably made sports equipment to a local recreation center and interacted with children in the after-school program.
The Allstate NACDA Good Works Team recognizes 60 student-athletes annually across the fall, winter and spring seasons, with 20 honorees selected each season. Now in its second year, the initiative continues to expand recognition across all sports while highlighting student-athletes who make a meaningful impact beyond competition.
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
For all of the latest on DePaul Cross Country, Track & Field, stay tuned to DePaulBlueDemons.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
The Allstate NACDA Good Works Team recognizes student-athletes across all collegiate sports and divisions who demonstrate outstanding commitment to community service, academic achievement and athletic excellence. A total of 180 winter student-athletes were nominated nationwide. A selection committee will select the final 20-member team, consisting of 10 male and 10 female student-athletes, to be announced in early February.
Austin, a junior thrower, has been a consistent scorer for the Blue Demons across both indoor and outdoor seasons. In 2024-25, she recorded season bests of 12.21m in the shot put, 14.74m in the weight throw, 44.97m in the discus, and 48.46m in the hammer throw. Austin earned a fifth-place finish in the hammer throw at the BIG EAST Outdoor Championships and placed third in the discus at the Gary Wieneke Memorial. She is also a recipient of the Jarrod Jahnke Memorial Endowed Scholarship.
Austin has demonstrated a strong commitment to service through her involvement with Team IMPACT, volunteering at the Chicagoland Team IMPACT 5K held Oct. 26 at Montrose Beach Track. She assisted with event setup, ran alongside Team IMPACT athletes, and encouraged participants of all ages and abilities along the course. The event served as a major fundraiser, with the Chicagoland Team IMPACT community raising $222,007. Austin has also volunteered with Catholic Charities at the St. Vincent Center at DePaul, helping prepare and serve meals while engaging directly with members of Chicago's urban community.
Gary, a sophomore thrower, has established himself as one of the BIG EAST's top performers in the shot put. During the 2024-25 season, he swept both the BIG EAST Indoor and Outdoor shot put titles, recording a season-best mark of 18.58m indoors at the Badgers Midwest Invite and 18.28m outdoors at the NCAA West First Round. He also earned a bronze medal in the discus at the BIG EAST Outdoor Championships and qualified for the NCAA West First Round, consistently placing among the conference's elite across multiple throwing events.
Off the track, Gary has been active in community service efforts throughout Chicago. He volunteered with Catholic Charities at the St. Vincent Center at DePaul, assisting with the preparation and serving of community meals in a sit-down, restaurant-style setting while engaging with individuals and families. Gary also participated in Green Sports Day, an annual initiative promoting sustainability in athletics. Through DePaul's partnership with the Marillac St. Vincent Center, he helped distribute sustainably made sports equipment to a local recreation center and interacted with children in the after-school program.
The Allstate NACDA Good Works Team recognizes 60 student-athletes annually across the fall, winter and spring seasons, with 20 honorees selected each season. Now in its second year, the initiative continues to expand recognition across all sports while highlighting student-athletes who make a meaningful impact beyond competition.
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
For all of the latest on DePaul Cross Country, Track & Field, stay tuned to DePaulBlueDemons.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
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