By Leandra Harasta
Iowa Athletics

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- University of Iowa women’s wrestler Nanea Estrella, who was the Hawaii and National winner of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award in 2020, has been selected as the inaugural female winner of the Big Ten Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award.

The Big Ten Jackie Robinson Award recognizes student-athletes whose significant community service contributions align with Jackie Robinson's legacy of courage, determination, teamwork, persistence, integrity, citizenship, justice, commitment, and excellence.

Each of the 18 Big Ten member institutions nominated one female and one male student-athlete who serves their campus communities and has demonstrated impact, collaboration and teamwork, consistency, commitment, visibility, and advocacy.

The Big Ten selected one male and one female award winner from the 36 nominations with Estrella being chosen as the female award winner. All other nominees will receive individual awards for their community service efforts.

"We are always really excited to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our student athletes," said Commissioner Petitti. "We see them do it athletically on the biggest stages, but also there's a quiet thing they do, which is impact their communities and to recognize Nanea for what she does, there's nothing better than being on campus, being able to do this in person."

The Makawao, Hawaii, native spearheaded an online donation drive in to help support the people of Lahaina after one the deadliest wildfire in U.S. history leveled the town in August of 2023. Though Estrella was not born in Lahaina, it was her second home as she went to high school at Lahainaluna.

“They always accepted me as one of their own,” Estrella says. “I’ve done so many fundraisers in Lahaina that made it possible for me to compete nationally in wrestling.

The senior organized a toy/sports equipment drive and a virtual food drive for the Maui Food Bank to help the residents of Lahaina. Her efforts raised over $5,000 for the Maui Food Bank and sent countless toys and sports equipment to families who lost everything.

“It meant the world to me to come back to Iowa City and feel the support from Iowa and feel that Hawkeyes really want to help,” said Estrella. “The Hawkeye community gave me the same support that Lahaina gave me when I was younger. It gave me a little reminder of home and makes me feel so confident in my decision to be here. I’m just so grateful.”

It has been 20 months since the fires and the community of Lahaina is still far from being repaired. Estrella makes an effort that every time she returns home to help run wrestling practices as her way of giving back to the community while also continuing to grow the sport.

Read more from the Big Ten Conference about the Inaugural "Big Ten Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award" for student-athletes.