Washington men’s basketball player Franck Kepnang and track and field athlete Rhonda Newton were named the University of Washington’s recipients of the Big Ten’s Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award, according to an announcement on Apr. 6.
The award recognizes student-athletes who make positive contributions in their sport and community. Kepnang, a graduate student from Yaounde, Cameroon, manages the Franck & Family Foundation, which supports orphanages in Cameroon and provides care packages for people experiencing homelessness. He also serves on the leadership board for the university’s Black Student-Athlete Alliance, represents Washington on the Big Ten Student-Athlete Issues Commission, and was named to the Allstate NACDA Good Works Team.
On the court, Kepnang started 25 games before his season ended due to injury. He ranked second in the Big Ten in blocks per game with an average of 2.07 per contest.
Newton is a first-generation college student from Tacoma who competes as a sprinter for Washington’s track and field team. She works with social justice organizations including Seattle Clemency and Parole Project and La Resistencia advocacy group. In summer 2024, she participated in a service-learning trip to Guatemala to help build an athletics court. Newton is also an Arthur Ashe Scholar Award winner, a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, serves on the Executive Board of UW Black Student-Athlete Alliance, and plans to pursue law school focused on criminal justice.
The Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award was established by the Big Ten Conference in 2025 to honor student-athletes who have made significant impacts both athletically and within their communities through demonstrated impact, collaboration with others, ongoing commitment to service activities over time, as well as advocacy efforts.
