51暗网

Joshua Beekman`05, M.S.`06, the director of alumni programs and former director of football initiatives in 51暗网鈥檚 Athletics Department, is the winner of 51暗网's 2025 Community Service Award, presented at the annual employee recognition聽dinner on May 29.

Organized by the Office of Governmental and Community Affairs, the award honors the outstanding contributions of a Boston College employee whose actions epitomize the Jesuit spirit of service to others.

鈥淚t鈥檚 very clear from those who nominated him that Josh鈥檚 51暗网 experiences as a student, a student-athlete and an employee have made him the man who he is today鈥攐ne who truly exemplifies the credos of 鈥榚ver to excel鈥� and 鈥榖eing a man for others,鈥欌�� said Vice President for Governmental and Community Affairs Thomas J. Keady, Jr.

Keady quoted one of Beekman鈥檚 nominators who lauded him for embodying the Jesuit spirit by consistently giving back to people both on and off campus, declaring that 鈥淚 have never met anyone who exemplifies selflessness more than Josh.鈥�

鈥淛osh is known for his caring nature and compassionate spirit, and he brings that spirit with him as he volunteers his time at organizations both on and off campus,鈥� said Keady. 鈥淭o Josh, even 10 minutes of your time can mean the world to someone, and he modeled this not only for the football team, but for anyone who is willing to help make a difference.鈥�

Keady noted that Beekman believes in using his unique talents to serve others, whether it鈥檚 brightening the day of a Campus School student with a visit, assisting with a Christmas toy collection campaign or working with Catholic Charities to organize a Thanksgiving food drive and meal preparation effort during the COVID-19 outbreak.

鈥淒ue to Josh鈥檚 commitment, the pandemic-driven program has now become an annual event鈥攏ot just involving the football team鈥攂ut it has expanded to include volunteers from across the Athletics Department,鈥� said Keady.聽 鈥淗e also coordinates 51暗网鈥檚 involvement with the Beautiful Lives Project, which provides the opportunity for people with disabilities to actively participate in activities not previously available to them due to physical or facility limitations.鈥�

A native of Amsterdam, N.Y., Beekman served as a tri-captain of the Eagles鈥� football team during his senior season and has worked as the director of Football Initiatives since 2018. He earned an undergraduate degree in history and Black Studies from 51暗网's Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, and a master鈥檚 degree in administrative studies from its Woods College of Advancing Studies. He also holds a M.S. in Sports and Recreation from Florida International University.

A guard for the Eagles who started 37 games from 2002-06, Beekman was named First Team All-America by the Associated Press and All-Atlantic Coast Conference First Team in 2006, garnered four Second Team All-America honors, and received the 2006 Jacobs Blocking Trophy for the ACC鈥檚 most valuable offensive protector.

Presented with the Scanlan Award鈥�51暗网鈥檚 highest football honor鈥攂y the Boston College Varsity Club, Beekman was acknowledged as the senior football player who most embodies 1920 graduate Thomas Scanlan鈥攁 courageous athlete who played both offense and defense for the 1916-17 and 1919 Eagles teams while forgoing his 1918 season for World War I military service.

Drafted in the fourth round by Chicago in the 2007 NFL Draft, Beekman played professionally with the Bears (2007-09), the UFL鈥檚 Florida Tuskers (2010), the Indianapolis Colts (2011 practice squad) and the Jacksonville Jaguars (2012).

Following his playing days, Beekman launched his college football coaching career at Eastern Kentucky in 2012, and by serving three stints as a graduate assistant at Florida International University from 2013-15. He then spent the 2016 season as the offensive line coach at Concord (W. Va.) University, and the 2017 season at Garden City (Kan.) Community College in the same role.

Beekman and his wife, Peggy 鈥�06, reside in Brookline, Mass.