Center Valley, PA (February 19, 2025) - Junior Bobby Dingell was named to the 2025 Lou Gehrig Community Impact Team as announced by Phi Delta Theta and the Live Like Lou Foundation on Wednesday morning.

Since 1955, Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity has presented the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award to the Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies the spirit and character of Lou Gehrig, both on and off the field. Created to memorialize beloved Phi Delta Theta member Lou Gehrig following his death from ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), the award is housed in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. Through the growing impact of the award, Phi Delta Theta recognizes some of the best men in baseball while positively impacting the ALS community.

To further Lou Gehrig's legacy and his storied baseball career that began at the collegiate level at Columbia University, Phi Delta Theta, in partnership with the Live Like Lou Foundation, introduced the Lou Gehrig Community Impact Team in 2024 to annually recognize the giving character and community impact of collegiate baseball players. Honorees were nominated by their schools, and the team was selected based on outstanding achievements in three key areas:

• Demonstrating a substantial commitment to their community through service and philanthropy.
• Embodying the generous spirit and character of Lou Gehrig.
• Making remarkable contributions to the success of their respective teams.

Dingell has proven himself both as an outstanding baseball player and a dedicated community leader. As a sophomore outfielder for the Bulldogs, Bobby had an impressive season, hitting .333 and showcasing his ability to contribute to the team in key moments. His on-field success was matched by his leadership off the field, where he served as the baseball team's representative on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and was selected as one of two athletes from DeSales Athletics to attend the prestigious NCAA Student Athlete Leadership Forum.

Bobby's community involvement is extensive and speaks to his commitment to making a positive impact. He actively volunteers with Best Buddies, a nonprofit that promotes inclusivity for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In October, Bobby launched the school's first-ever pickleball tournament to raise funds for Best Buddies, further demonstrating his dedication to both service and leadership.

During his time at DeSales, Bobby has held significant leadership positions, serving as class president in his freshman and sophomore years, and is now the executive president of the Student Government Association (SGA). He kicked off the school year by hosting an outdoor movie night to promote Teenage Mental Health Awareness. The event was not only a success in raising awareness but also served as a fundraiser for Colleges Against Cancer, a program of the American Cancer Society.

Bobby also organized a school-wide donation drive, collecting school supplies for St. John Vianney through the baseball program, showcasing his dedication to giving back. Each year, Bobby volunteers with the Lehigh Valley Miracle League, and this past summer, he took the team's batboy to his confirmation, where Bobby served as his confirmation sponsor, further deepening his commitment to mentorship and community service.

In addition to his contributions to the community, Bobby's character on the field was recognized when he was awarded the 2024 Drew Steig Memorial Award in the Potomac League. This prestigious honor is given to a player who embodies the qualities of leadership, teamwork, and integrity, all values Bobby consistently demonstrates. His stats for the summer league reflect his contributions, as he posted a .333 batting average with a .484 on-base percentage, adding to his impressive list of accomplishments.

"Bobby Dingell is a class act. Being executive president, I know that there is a good workload that comes with it. Even with that workload, he is always the first to show up and one of the last to leave. He always finds time to help others off the field as well as tutor some of his teammates. Bobby is a big part of this ballclub and always puts others before himself," said head coach Tim Neiman.