BOLIVAR, Mo. -- Southwest Baptist University Bearcat quarterback Steve Gachette was selected as a nominee for the 2010 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, which is widely recognized as the most prestigious community service award in college football.

Gachette, a senior from Lehigh Acres, Fla., was one of 112 football student-athletes nominated for the team, the most in the award's 19-year history. There are more than 50,000 student-athletes competing at four-year institutions who are eligible to make the team. Gachette was also one of 106 national nominees for the team in 2009.

Gachette has helped with Lovin' Thy Neighbor projects, where Bearcat players provided clean-up and moving assistance for the elderly. He also has assisted with the Big Cat Little Cat program, visiting elementary schools to assist teachers and help children with reading skills. Gachette has also participated in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, donated blood in Bearcat football efforts through several blood drives, and has worked with construction help for the John Playter Rotary Club Park.

In addition to his community service work, Gachette holds 16 school records including single game, season and career marks for attempts, completions, passing yards, touchdown passes, and total offense. He was named the D2football.com All-Independents Offensive Player of the Year, Football Gazette's All-Super Region Four Third Team and was a regional finalist for the Harlon Hill Award, which honors the nation's top Division II football player. He helped the Bearcats to their first winning season since 2001.

"Steve displays leadership on and off the field," said SBU Bearcat head coach Keith Allen. "He has a charisma about him that inspires others to do good in many areas. We want our program to give back to the community, and Steve is a primary example of those efforts."

The final 2010 Allstate AFCA (American Football Coaches Association) Good Works Team roster will be announced late in September and will consist of 22 team members; 11 from NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision teams and 11 from NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III, and the NAIA. College Football Hall of Fame member and ESPN broadcaster Lou Holtz is returning for a third year to serve as spokesperson for the program and raise awareness for the stories of the nominees and team members. 

"We applaud the commitment of these 112 student-athletes to positively impact their communities with innovation, creativity and passion that reflects so well on their sport, and their respective institutions," said Guy Hill, vice president of sales and service for Allstate, who also serves on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team voting panel.

ESPN.com will launch a customized Allstate AFCA Good Works Team website featuring profiles of the final 22 award recipients, as well as unique and interactive content for college football fans. For the first time in the program's history, fans will be able to vote for a team captain on the website.