by NORTHBROOK, Ill. — Teton Saltes (Oglala Lakota), a junior offensive lineman, has been named one of nine semifinalists for the Wuerffel Trophy. Finalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 18, 2019. The formal announcement of the 2019 Wuerffel Trophy recipient is scheduled to be made on Dec. 10, 2019 at the National Football Foundation’s festivities in New York City.
The 2019 Wuerffel Trophy semifinalists are listed alphabetically by university:
Derrick Brown, Auburn University, senior, defensive line
Koby Quansah, Duke University, senior, linebacker
Blake Ferguson, Louisiana State University, senior, long snapper
Braden Mann, Texas A&M University, senior, punter
Isaiah Sanders, United States Air Force Academy, senior, quarterback
Rodrigo Blankenship, University of Georgia, senior, kicker
Teton Saltes, University of New Mexico, junior, offensive line
Sam Ehlinger, University of Texas, junior, quarterback
Jon Wassink, Western Michigan University, senior, quarterback
Saltes’ honor marks the third time in the last five seasons that the Lobos have had a semifinalist for the award. In both 2015 and 2016, Garrett Adcock, who ironically played the exact same position as Saltes, right tackle, was a semifinalist. Adcock in 2016 was one of three finalists for the award.
The Wuerffel Trophy, named after Wuerffel, the 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback from the University of Florida, is awarded to the Football Bowl Subdivision player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.
Saltes, a member of the Lakota tribe in South Dakota, is a political science and Native American studies major. He continually gives back to his communities in New Mexico and South Dakota. In South Dakota, he works with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Sweetgrass Project which works in Suicide Awareness and Suicide Prevention. He is trained and has volunteered to work the Suicide Prevention Hotline as Peer Mentor and has goes to schools to speak on Suicide Awareness and Prevention on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and other Indian Reservations within South Dakota.
Saltes has also volunteered with Oglala Lakota Schools by speaking with school aged children on the struggles they face in life on the reservation and on bullying and how it effects as kids and tools to cope with bullying.
He is actively involved in his community through the BEAR Program (Be Excited About Reading). He also serves as a Peer Mentor and works with youth in the summer, on school breaks and through an online program in improving reading skills. In the BEAR Program children perform live theatrical skits with props and costumes to address bullying, suicide and home life issues. He works closely with suicide providers teaching life skills and providing support as I have completed ASSIST Training through the program. Through the BEAR Program we also conduct winter coats and clothing drives in which I support and assist from my college campus in New Mexico. Teton also helps support the community on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation by collecting food for the Food Bank, operating out of our community center for families in need.
Saltes has also contributed in New Mexico, serving as the keynote speaker in Santa Fe, speaking about the importance of being involved in your community and completing your education. He serves as a student ambassador for the Save the Children Action network and in the spring, he was excused from a week of practice to attend lobbying activities in Washington D.C. to promote early education which involved working closely with our U.S. Congressional Reps in developing Policy.
He initiated meetings with “Save the Children Action Network” to promote working closely with many of the Native American Communities on the reservations throughout the United States. Saltes has been reviewing potential legislation and initiatives that would fit into the scope of “Save the Children” organization.
Specific with UNM Football, Teton has volunteered to work with feeding the homeless in Albuquerque. Currently he volunteers time with The Lakota Dream Museum, putting many of the stories from the Lakota Elders into writing so their stories and history can be shared at the Museum.
