COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - Bonding with fellow college football players from across the nation, getting to meet ex-collegiate greats and soaking up a moment in the spotlight on national television.
 
Those were the positive memories Saint John's University senior linebacker Jake Schwinghammer will take away from his time in New Orleans, where he was honored as a member of the 22-man Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team during a halftime ceremony of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup between Notre Dame and Georgia at the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2.
 
Unfortunately, the ceremony and the game itself were overshadowed by the tragic event that took place in the early morning hours of New Year's Day along Bourbon Street.
 
A vehicle sped around a blockade straight into the crowd gathered to celebrate in an attack the FBI has labeled an act of terrorism. The assault left 14 people dead and injured many others. The driver himself was then killed after a shootout with police.
 
The tragedy caused the Sugar Bowl matchup to be postponed from New Year's night until the following afternoon, and Schwinghammer and his fellow honorees were confined to their hotel as part of security protections.
 
"We (the members of the Good Works Team) had been out there on New Year's Eve, and it was really cool to be on Bourbon Street," Schwinghammer said. "There were a ton of people, and it was an amazing atmosphere. We eventually made our way to Jackson Square and watched the fireworks, but we had a curfew so we headed back to our hotel right after midnight.
 
"The attack happened a couple of hours later. We didn't hear about it until we woke up and went down to a brunch we had scheduled the next morning. It was awful. I think everyone was kind of in shock. The security was really tightened at our hotel because all the executives from Allstate, and guys like (former Heisman Trophy winner) Tim Tebow were staying there. So we knew we were protected. But nobody really knew what was going to happen next."
 
The ceremony did finally take place on Jan. 2, though not all the 22 team members — representing teams across every division of college football — were able to remain for an extra day.
 
"We had the choice and about half of us decided to stay," Schwinghammer said. "The other guys left because they had flight issues, or because they just didn't feel safe.
 
"But we were all able to hang out earlier in the week and that was awesome. You had guys from smaller schools, and guys from the SEC who are heading to the NFL. But we were all there for the impact we've been able to make in our communities. That united us."
 
Indeed, this year marked the 33rd anniversary of the Good Works Team, which was established in 1992 to recognize a select group of college football players who have made a commitment to service and enriching the lives of others.
 
Schwinghammer, a 6-foot, 215-pound Tartan High School graduate, started the last 22 games for the Johnnies — including all 12 during his senior season this past fall when he ranked fourth on the team in tackles with 54, including three for a loss.
 
Away from the field, the biochemistry major is the co-founder and vice president of the Johnnies and Bennies in Communities (JBIC) Club, which was established in February 2024. The club participates in community service with local organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters and Feed My Starving Children, as well as elderly groups.
 
He is in his first year as president of the CSB and SJU St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Club on campus and is also president of SJU football's St. Jude committee, which raised more than $60,000 this fall.
 
In addition, while studying abroad in London during the spring of 2024, he spent eight weeks working at a school that enrolled only adult students with special needs through an internship with Caritas Westminster.
 
Upon his return, he spent a week in Guatemala in late May working as a volunteer in medical clinics, providing free health care to underprivileged residents from across the region.
 
He also partnered with Ryan Thissen (basketball) and D.J. Myles (wrestling and football) to organize a successful winter clothing drive in cooperation with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud. Donations were taken at SJU's home football, basketball and wrestling events on Nov. 9, collecting 30 full trash bags of needed items.
 
Schwinghammer is the eighth Johnnie to be named to the Good Works Team, and the seventh in the last eight seasons — joining wide receiver Jimmy Buck '23, defensive lineman Michael Wozniak '22, quarterback Chris Backes '21, offensive lineman Ben Bartch '20, quarterback Jackson Erdmann '19 and wide receiver Will Gillach '19. Defensive end Kevin McNamara '07 was the first SJU student-athlete to receive the honor in 2006.
 
"I am so proud of Jake and his selection to the Allstate Good Works Team," SJU head coach Gary Fasching '81 said. "We have had a long line of players who have been selected, and Jake carried on that tradition of service that I feel is so important for our players. 
 
"Jake met with me last spring about all the things that he was involved in, and it was clear that he was going to be a great candidate for (this honor). His record of volunteerism and service is exemplary, and he represented Saint John's and our football program very well in New Orleans. He helped to set the standard for future players to get involved and serve others."
 
While in New Orleans, Schwinghammer had the chance to meet Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, former Heisman Trophy winners like Tebow (right) and Danny Wuerffel, as well as numerous high-ranking executives at Allstate.
 
But it was bonding with his fellow honorees that helped make the week special, providing him a sense of the good that exists in the world even in the face of the surrounding tragedy.
 
"The first night we were there, we went around the room sharing all the things we'd been involved in," Schwinghammer said. "What was so amazing was that everybody's story was different. We were involved in different projects, we came from all sizes of schools, but in that room, we were all equals.
 
"We were all committed to making a difference in our communities, and that was a really amazing atmosphere to be part of."