Bedford, McMorris Selected For Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award
11/19/25 | Football, General, Acrobatics & Tumbling
EUGENE, Ore. – Matthew Bedford (football) and Blessyn McMorris (acrobatics and tumbling) were announced on Wednesday as the University of Oregon's two campus winners of the 2025-26 Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award, presented by Discover.
Now in its second year, the honor was created to recognize Big Ten student-athletes who go beyond excellence in competition and work to have a positive impact within their teams and communities.
From the 36 campus winners throughout the conference, two overall conference honorees will be selected and announced in the spring of 2026.
Bedford has been at the forefront of the Oregon football team's impact in the community since arriving in Eugene, leading the program in community service hours in his time as a Duck. He has placed an emphasis on helping the unhoused community, passing out food and materials to those in need throughout his time in Oregon. He has also participated with various organizations in the community such as Sleep in Heavenly Peace, A Family For Every Child, Kids Sports, and reading events at various local schools.
Bedford has been Oregon's nominee each of the last two years for the Wuerffel Trophy, college football's premier award for community service. Bedford has appeared in seven games for the Ducks for the Ducks since transferring from Indiana, where he was also on the athletic department's Leadership Council.
As a leader on the acrobatics and tumbling team, McMorris was one of the most recent Ducks to take home an individual NCATA National Championship. She has played an integral role in the representation of the University of Oregon, attending the Black Student-Athlete Summit in Los Angles the past three years.
In addition to athletics and academics, McMorris is a member of the BeOregon executive board, promoting inclusivity and diversity for student-athletes. She coordinated student-athlete engagement in a recent Black History Month event, in addition to planning and organizing other BeOregon events.
Now in its second year, the honor was created to recognize Big Ten student-athletes who go beyond excellence in competition and work to have a positive impact within their teams and communities.
From the 36 campus winners throughout the conference, two overall conference honorees will be selected and announced in the spring of 2026.
Bedford has been at the forefront of the Oregon football team's impact in the community since arriving in Eugene, leading the program in community service hours in his time as a Duck. He has placed an emphasis on helping the unhoused community, passing out food and materials to those in need throughout his time in Oregon. He has also participated with various organizations in the community such as Sleep in Heavenly Peace, A Family For Every Child, Kids Sports, and reading events at various local schools.
Bedford has been Oregon's nominee each of the last two years for the Wuerffel Trophy, college football's premier award for community service. Bedford has appeared in seven games for the Ducks for the Ducks since transferring from Indiana, where he was also on the athletic department's Leadership Council.
As a leader on the acrobatics and tumbling team, McMorris was one of the most recent Ducks to take home an individual NCATA National Championship. She has played an integral role in the representation of the University of Oregon, attending the Black Student-Athlete Summit in Los Angles the past three years.
In addition to athletics and academics, McMorris is a member of the BeOregon executive board, promoting inclusivity and diversity for student-athletes. She coordinated student-athlete engagement in a recent Black History Month event, in addition to planning and organizing other BeOregon events.
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