Student-Athlete of Year

Each year three NJCAA student-athletes are honored for their achievements on the playing fields, as well as in the classroom and their community, with the highest honors the Association has established. In order to be considered for one of the following prestigious awards a student-athlete must be nominated by his/her college, region or conference. The three awards recognized by the NJCAA are the Betty Jo Graber Female Student-Athlete of the Year, the David Rowlands Male Student-Athlete of the Year, and the Lea Plarski Award.

The NJCAA Student-Athlete of the Year awardees are honored each year at the NJCAA Hall of Fame and Awards Event. Award winners receive a $1,000 scholarship from the NJCAA Foundation to attend a four-year institution or a $1,000 honorarium will be awarded to the member college from which the respective award winners are nominated. The award winner must transfer to a four-year institution within two academic years of receiving the award. The honorarium is to be used by the college to acknowledge/celebrate the student-athlete's accomplishments.

Betty Jo Graber Female Student-Athlete of the Year

• Awarded to the nation's top female student-athlete
• Awarded based on athletic ability
• Criteria includes individual and team achievements
• More about the Betty Jo Graber Award

David Rowlands Male Student-Athlete of the Year

• Awarded to the nation's top male student-athlete
• Awarded based on athletic ability
• Criteria includes individual and team achievements
• More about the David Rowlands Award

Lea Plarski Award

• Awarded to the nation's top student-athlete that embodies the values of the NJCAA
• Criteria includes sportsmanship, leadership, community service, academic excellence, athletic ability and achievement
• More about the Lea Plarski Award

 To make a nomination for Student-Athlete of the Year Award, please click HERE.