GLENVIEW, Ill.—Westminster rising senior Braden Mika (Vandergrift, Pa., Kiski) was named a nominee for the 2026 Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team® Tuesday morning.
Allstate and AFCA named 162 student-athletes as nominees for this year's Good Works Team®, recognizing college football players who lead through community service, academics and athletics. The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® reflects Allstate's longstanding commitment to supporting student-athletes who strengthen their communities through service.
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® was established in 1992 by the College Football Association, recognizing the extra efforts made by college football players and student support staff off the field. The AFCA became the governing body of the award in 1997 and continues to honor college football players who go the extra mile for those in need. Allstate began presenting the award in 2008.
A three-year starter at right tackle, Mika owns a 3.48 cumulative grade-point average (GPA) while pursuing a major in accounting and minor in finance. A 2025 First Team All-Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) selection and Honorable Mention All-PAC pick in 2023 and 2024, he has not missed a start since arriving in New Wilmington. Mika has been named to the College's Dean's List three times and the PAC Academic Honor Roll once. He is a two-time Academic All-District® selection (2024, 2025).
Mika has volunteered with the experiential Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program, helping prepare federal, state and local tax returns for low- to moderate-income individuals, the elderly, individuals with disabilities and international students through the Lawrence County Community Action Partnership (LCCAP), dedicated to enhancing the quality of life within Lawrence County by eliminating and preventing the causes and effects of poverty. He is currently participating in PNC's 10-week corporate finance and accounting summer internship program, working side-by-side with PNC professionals in the preparation of external reporting (e.g., earnings releases and investor presentations; financial statements and regulatory filings and reports) and internal reporting (e.g., budgeting and forecasting) using well-controlled processes.
Mika has served as a volunteer with the College's Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) program and Special Olympics Lawrence County, assisting with initial visitor registration for an annual spring event on campus that welcomes hundreds of Special Olympics athletes from seven local counties for a basketball tournament and swim meet. He has volunteered at Wilmington Field Day, Wilmington Area Elementary School's annual visit to campus, where Westminster student-athletes run basketball, track, football, golf, volleyball, soccer, tennis and lacrosse activities that keep the visiting students and College student-athletes engaged. Mika has helped lead the football program's participation in the annual Toys for Tots campaign while assisting the United States Marine Corps with its annual toy drive and distribution and worked with other members of the football program to clean up local parks around the New Wilmington community.
The 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® will be announced in September and include 22 student-athletes and one honorary head coach. One student-athlete will also be selected as team captain and receive the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy. A voting panel of former Good Works Team® members, head coaches and journalists will select the team roster based on outstanding leadership on and off the field. A selection panel composed of former Good Works Team® members, college football coaches, journalists and other leaders connected to the award reviews nominations from across the country. Voters evaluate candidates based on the breadth and depth of their community service, demonstrated leadership, academic achievement and the measurable impact they have had on the people and causes they serve.
