IRVING, Texas – Parker Byrd, a senior infielder from the East Carolina University baseball program, was selected as the 2026 recipient of the American Conference Community Impact Award presented by Jostens, as chosen by members of the conference’s Student-Athlete Advocacy Committee.

The award recognizes a student-athlete who has made an impact in either the surrounding or campus community through service work. One student-athlete or group from each American member is eligible for nomination each academic year. The award includes a $2,000 donation from the American and Jostens in Byrd’s name that will be made to the life skills program at East Carolina.

Byrd, a native of Laurinburg, North Carolina, has been a member of the ECU baseball team for the past four years and has made a significant impact in the local Greenville community with his philanthropic efforts. Byrd launched the Limbitless Foundation to support amputees by focusing on awareness, resources and engagement for others who have lost a limb. Byrd himself was severely injured in a boating accident in the summer of 2022 and had his right leg amputated below the knee prior to his first season at ECU, before ultimately making his return to the baseball diamond some 13 months later.

Other causes that Byrd has championed in the local community have included Homers That Help, where each ECU home run and strikeout has helped raise money to be donated to the ECU Children’s Hospital. Byrd has also worked closely with Riley’s Army supporting pediatric cancer patients and Aces for Autism to continue to provide fundraising and awareness initiatives to benefit children and families facing medical challenges. In addition to these organized causes, Byrd has regularly visited local schools and hospitals to share positive encouragement and provide further outreach to those in need.

In recognition of his work in the community, Byrd was awarded the Laurel Wreath by North Carolina Governor Josh Stein in April of 2025. The Laurel Wreath is presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to sports or athletics in the state.

Other 2026 American Community Impact Award Nominees:

UAB Football
Provided service work at the Bundles of Hope Diaper Bank warehouse, picked up litter with Black Warrior Riverkeeper, built a house with Habitat for Humanity and volunteered with various elementary schools to support Smile A Mile, Food For Our Journey and the Food Bank of Central Alabama. Named Volunteers of the Month at Bundles of Hope and UAB as a university was awarded School Volunteers of the Year at the Food Bank of Central Alabama.

Larry Pickett Jr., Army Football
Along with his father, rescued an unconscious motorist from a fiery crash in August of 2025. The motorist walked away from the accident with only minor injuries thanks in part to the quick action of the Pickett family. Pickett’s heroic story was featured on ESPN College GameDay last September.

Charlotte Women’s Soccer
Collectively completed 285 community service hours in 2025-26, including volunteering at the Second Harvest, Hope Street and Jamil Niner Pantry food banks, youth soccer clinics, participating in literacy and school engagement events and in community-focused programming for National Girls & Women In Sports Day.

Riley Simmons, Memphis Women’s Track and Field
Helped create Revival Night, which brought the community together through music and stories of overcoming adversity. Secured $10,000 to host the event through partnerships and fundraising efforts. Also held regular speaking engagements with the Bartlett High School girls basketball team.

Sadie Golden, North Texas Women’s Swimming and Diving
Through work with Team IMPACT, enabled several North Texas athletics programs to host and support students and families facing significant challenges. Helped plan and operate the annual Snack and Serve event that connected five nonprofit organizations, UNT staff and students through meaningful volunteer engagement.

Rice Football
Program partnered with Kids’ Meals throughout the 2025-26 academic year to support youth in the Houston community facing food insecurity concerns. Football student-athletes contributed over 600 service hours packing more than 30,000 meals that were distributed to local children and families in need, setting a Kids’ Meals program record with 12,000 lunches packed during one volunteer session.

Christian Helms, South Florida Football
Advocate for the LifeLink Foundation, helping raise awareness for organ donation while supporting his father’s own kidney transplant journey. Also volunteered with the Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity, Parkinson’s Moving Day, the Children’s Cancer Center and Pasco County Animal Services. Received the Freddie Solomon Award which recognizes leadership, character and service beyond athletics.

Maddie Moten, Temple Women’s Lacrosse
Served as Director of Community Outreach for Temple’s Black Student-Athlete Association. Helped to organize Trunk or Treat, book drives, holiday toy and food drives and educational programming to mentor local youth from underrepresented communities in the North Philadelphia area through the sport of lacrosse.

UTSA Football
Team members served as mentors through the Rowdy Readers program at Myers Elementary School, supporting literacy development, encouraging academic engagement and building meaningful relationships with children in the local community.

Andrea Zeebe, Tulane Women’s Swimming and Diving
Provided service work at Manning Children's Hospital in New Orleans as an emergency room and post-anesthesia care unit volunteer along with working with Project Sunshine, through providing items and engaging with children during their visits. Also served as a translation liaison at the hospital for Spanish-speaking families. Additional service efforts were provided to Hawaii Pacific Health, BISCIS Baseball & Wheelchair Basketball League and Special Olympics New Orleans.

Wichita State Women’s Basketball
Team members combined to serve more than 340 hours working with various organizations including the Kansas Food Bank, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Team IMPACT, interacting primarily with youth groups across the local community.


Community Impact Award
The Student-Athlete Advocacy Committee will annually select a student-athlete or group of student-athletes from one American Conference institution who has made a lasting impact on their surrounding community or within the campus community.
 
2018-19                Stephen Sepcich, Baseball, Tulane
2019-20              Alexandra Wall, Swimming & Diving, Cincinnati
2020-21               Alexis Cheatum, Volleyball, Houston
2021-22                Jenica Baron, Bowling, Tulane
2022-23               Annabelle Corcoran, Swimming & Diving, SMU
2023-24              Carter Cunningham, Baseball, East Carolina
2024-25              Stephen Kittleman, Football, Tulsa
2025-26              Parker Byrd, Baseball, East Carolina