Stegman Named to Inaugural Lou Gehrig Community Impact Team

Maisie Nelson • February 22, 2024

Union Baseball senior Colton Stegman has been honored with a prestigious recognition, being named to the inaugural Lou Gehrig Community Impact Team, as announced on Monday by Phi Delta Theta in collaboration with the Live Like Lou Foundation.

Since its inception in 1955, Phi Delta Theta has bestowed the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award upon the Major League Baseball player who best embodies the spirit and character of Lou Gehrig, both on and off the field. Established to commemorate the esteemed Phi Delta Theta member Lou Gehrig, following his passing 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 this award, Phi Delta Theta acknowledges outstanding individuals in baseball while making a positive difference in the ALS community through its recipients and finalists.

In continuation of Lou Gehrig’s legacy and his illustrious baseball career that commenced at the collegiate level at Columbia University, Phi Delta Theta, in partnership with the Live Like Lou Foundation, proudly introduces the inaugural Lou Gehrig Community Impact Team to annually recognize collegiate baseball players for their philanthropic endeavors and community impact.

Nominees for this honor were put forth by their respective institutions, with the team selection based on exceptional achievements in three key areas:

Demonstrating a significant commitment to their community through service and philanthropy.
Exemplifying the generous spirit and character reminiscent of Lou Gehrig.
Making noteworthy contributions to the success of their respective teams.

In 2023, the baseball team received the Union College Community Service Team of the Year award, with Stegman, a native of Colorado Springs, Colorado, at the forefront of numerous campus and community service initiatives. Despite maintaining a stellar 4.0 GPA in the fall and a 3.75 GPA in the spring, Colton's commitment to both campus and community service remains evident through his outstanding contributions. On campus, Colton dedicated his time to various tasks, including landscaping, maintenance, event assistance, and supporting athletic activities.

However, Colton's impact extends beyond the confines of the campus as he actively engages with organizations in the Barbourville community. He volunteers with prominent establishments such as the Boys & Girls Club, the City of Barbourville, and the East Barbourville Baptist Church, participating in a wide array of activities ranging from holiday events to youth programs.

On the diamond, Colton proved to be a versatile asset for the Union Bulldogs in 2023, showcasing his skills both in the outfield and at first base. With an impressive batting average of .292, five home runs, and fifteen stolen bases, Colton played a pivotal role in the team's successes, including securing their first conference tournament championship in seventeen years and achieving the program's largest turnaround in history.

Union College Baseball Head Coach Chris Lewis commended Colton on this honor, stating, “Colton is as steady as they come. He just takes care of business on a daily basis in every phase of his life. He is a ‘first and last’ type of young man; the first one to show up and the last one to leave.”

Joining Stegman on the Lou Gehrig Community Impact team are John West, Boston College; RJ Austin, Vanderbilt; Karter Fitzpatrick, Wayne State; Rodney Green Jr., California; Ben King, Georgia Tech; Nick Kurtz, Wake Forest; Brandon Peace, Ripon College; Tommy White, LSU.

For more information about the 2024 Lou Gehrig Community Impact Team, click here.

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