A Two-Way Street of Good: A Lesson of Service Inspired by Drue Tranquill, the 2018 Wuerffel Trophy Winner

When Notre Dame linebacker Drue Tranquill set out on his first mission trip to the Dominican Republic, likely the last thing on his mind was what he had to gain. He only wanted to play his part in helping an underserved community—and he did just that by mentoring students at a local school, building houses, and volunteering at an orphanage. But over the course of three mission trips, it’s become clear that working in these communities has had an enormous positive effect on his own personal growth and molded him into a leader on and off the field. “You go over to serve the kids, but… they served me,” Drue revealed.

Drue shares an overlooked point—at its roots, community service is a selfless task we undertake with the needs of others in mind, but this work can be valuable to our own personal growth and self-discovery. In addition to positively impacting the lives of others, we hone the skills that make us leaders in all that we do. We walk away from these shared experiences with perspective and skills that we can carry back into our own lives, making community service a two-way street of good.

The way Drue lives his values—and has learned from his service to others—is a testament to this principle. And it’s one of the reasons he’s been named the winner of the 2018 Wuerffel Trophy, which the Chick-fil-A Foundation sponsors. The award honors the accomplishments of Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel, who committed his life fully to service after his NFL career and leads Desire Street Ministries in support of children affected by Hurricane Katrina. Each year, the Wuerffel Trophy recognizes a college football player for on-field performance, academic success, and most importantly, a demonstrated commitment to community service.

Drue not only fits the bill, but he amazes me with the character and commitment he displays at the age of 23. He is continuing his studies as a graduate student after receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering last year; he married his high school sweetheart this summer; and on Saturday, he will lead Notre Dame as a defensive captain when they compete for a national title in the College Football Playoff. Yet, what stands out most to me is how community service has shaped and augmented Drue’s life as he has followed his passion for helping children.

Drue has carried the mentoring and leadership skills he has gained in the Dominican Republic to his home state of Indiana, where he’s worked with nonprofit organizations including the Boys and Girls Club of South Bend, the Special Olympics Football Clinic, and the Madison Primary School, where he encourages students to “dream big”. And those skills are on full display in the locker room. Drue has become a respected mentor on and off the field for his Notre Dame teammates, particularly the younger players who entered the season at ages 17 and 18. “If all I’m working for is to be the best version of myself, I’m not really leaving a legacy,” Drue says. “I like to think I try to bring others along with me as well.”

The Wuerffel Trophy doesn’t just highlight Drue’s many successes—it draws a line connecting his dedication to others and the path for great achievement he has paved for himself. The dedication he displayed in the Dominican Republic and in his own community was rewarded with a new way to see the world through the eyes of others, the skills needed to inspire his teammates to excellence and ultimately nationwide recognition and a platform to inspire others to service.

Drue’s story underlines the very reason that the Chick-fil-A Foundation wanted to sponsor the Wuerffel Trophy’s recognition of stars on and off the field: to shine a light on an example of the two-way street of good that comes from community involvement. As we look back on our milestones and lessons learned from 2018, the values exemplified by Drue and past winners of the Wuerffel Trophy help reflect the importance of serving our communities. It evokes the famous quote from J.M. Barrie, “Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.”

As we head into this New Year, we look forward to spreading more rays of hope and prosperity in the communities we live and serve. We that hope you will join us.