For most of his life Trent Bielak has found ways to volunteer and serve others.
Once he made it to Pitt-Bradford, he felt himself start taking volunteerism into his own hands and understands the importance of faith and serving others, especially these last two years.
That all came to an apex when Bielak, a 2021 Highlands graduate, was one of nine collegiate baseball players nationwide named to the Lou Gehrig Community Impact Team by the Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity and the Live Like Lou Foundation.
“I’m just so grateful,” Bielak said. “Just so blessed to be surrounded by so many great people, from coaches, to my parents, to our athletic director, teammates, friends and advisors that helped me find so many amazing opportunities to serve those around me.”
Bielak found out he was nominated when his baseball coach at Bradford, Zach Foster, pulled him into his office and explained what the nomination was and that Bielak was to be nominated.
“He was very excited and told me that I might have a good chance,” Bielak said.
To further Gehrig’s legacy and his storied baseball career that began at Columbia, Phi Delta Theta, in partnership with the Live Like Lou Foundation, introduced the Lou Gehrig Community Impact Team in 2024 to annually recognize the giving character and community impact of collegiate baseball players.
Honorees were nominated by their schools and the team was selected based on outstanding achievements in demonstrating a substantial commitment to their community through service and philanthropy, embodying Gehrig’s generous spirit and character, and making remarkable contributions to their teams.
“It’s amazing to be honored with that name as well as being selected with all these other young men who have done so much to affect their communities in a positive manner,” Bielak said.
The way Bielak found out that he had been selected was in a similar manner to how came to be nominated. Foster called Bielak into his office and just pointed at the computer screen.
“I looked at the screen and said, ‘Oh my gosh, Coach!’ and he replied, ‘I know. This is awesome!,’” Bielak said. “I thought it was a pretty cool moment, thought it was cool coach was excited for me as well. It emphasized the support he has given he throughout my college career.”
Bielak credited Foster not just for the nomination, but for how he has impacted Bielak both as a baseball player and a man, helping Bielak prepare to be a husband, a father, and helping lead Bielak in his faith.
“You can see that he’s gone through some tough battles, but he always keeps a smile on his face and remains positive,” Bielak said. “He’s very strong when it comes to tough situations and it’s something to admire about him. He’s just been a good role model.”
Bielak also wanted to acknowledge the influence his sports-loving family had on his understanding of the importance of serving others in the community and how they showed that sports can be an avenue to help those in need.
Both his mom and dad have spent a lot to their time volunteering at events and even run basketball clinics at Highlands. That is where Trent and his brothers and sister learned the value of sharing their time with others.
“My mom played a huge part,” Bielak said. “I watched that my whole life growing up, how she served others with a smile and how she stays so strong. I just admire so much about her. It really taught me how I should go about serving others in my community.”
Bielak is grateful he had so many people in his life who helped guide him toward volunteer opportunities, which are now listed under his name on the Lou Gehrig Community Impact Team’s website.
He has been a resident advisor for two years at Bradford, playing a vital role in helping new students feel welcomed and supported.
He is actively involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and serves as vice president of the Catholic Newman Club, while also acting as a lector at campus Mass and an altar server at Guardian Angels Parish.
He also volunteers annually with the YMCA Corporate Challenge Run and has spent five years serving at his town’s Italian Festival. He supported the 9/11 Moving Flag Tribute, Memorial Day Flag Tribute Run, local blood drives, youth camps, Vacation Bible School, and Youth and Veterans Night games with the Butler Blue Sox.
But of all the service work he has done, there is one particular event that will stay with Bielak after he graduates.
He has volunteered with the Special Olympics in Bradford in an event called “Bowling with a Buddy.” Volunteers of the event are paired up with one of the Special Olympics athletes and, as a group, they bowl at the local lanes.
“Let me tell you, those athletes get really competitive and if you’re not playing well, they’ll bench you and continue on by themselves,” Bielak said. “It was such an amazing experience. To see that competitive nature in a fun environment where there was nothing but smiles at the end of the day. I loved every moment of it.”
Service is just one part of faith, which is a cornerstone of Bielak’s life.
“Baseball is a game of failure,” Bielak said. “You fail seven out of 10 times even when you’re playing well. School and life have their ups and downs, and my faith in Jesus Christ has given me a firm foundation.”
Growing in his faith and learning those values has made the community service Bielak has provided so much more meaningful. Serving others and learning the importance of community service — putting others first — has left an indescribable feeling for Bielak.
“I’ve been given opportunities and I’m very grateful to be here at Pitt-Bradford for five years, be around people that help push me to be better in my faith, service and leadership,” Bielak said.
On the diamond at Bradford, Bielak, a right fielder and pitcher, has a career batting average of .299, with eight home runs and 60 RBIs.
On the mound, this has been Bielak’s best season. So far he has a 4.26 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 19 innings and a WHIP of 1.58.
Bielak missed his entire junior year recovering from a torn labrum and surgery. But he will always take away the memories from last year’s conference playoffs.
The Panthers entered the postseason as the sixth and final seed to make the tournament. They made a run, defeating both the second and third seeds and lost to the one-seed 15-14 in the final game before the championship.
As a middle-of-the-order bat, Bielak elevated his game in the tournament, batting .428 with two home runs and seven RBIs.
“We went on a little run, made a name for ourselves, scared some people, shook the tournament up a little,” Bielak said. “We’re hoping to do that again this year.”
Bielak also took a trip to Detroit, Mich., on April 21, to try out for an Independent League team in the USPBL. He is hoping to playover the summer before continuing his education in the fall.
A fifth-year exercise science major, Bielak will work toward a doctorate in physical therapy at Carlow.
Carlow has programs where students work with people with special needs and lower income populations to give them free therapy.
“I think it’s amazing and it’s something I would like to figure out how to do once I’m done with school,” Bielak said. “I would love to share that with everyone, especially those in need.”