The National Junior College Athletic Association announced on May 6 the recipients of its 2025-26 Student-Athlete of the Year awards, which will be presented at the NJCAA Hall of Fame and Awards event scheduled for June 18 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Each year, four student-athletes are selected by the NJCAA for their achievements in athletics, academics, and community involvement. The awards include the Betty Jo Graber Award for Female Student-Athlete of the Year, David Rowlands Award for Male Student-Athlete of the Year, Lea Plarski Award, and Champion Award. The honorees are chosen based on their contributions from spring 2025 through winter 2026.
This year’s Betty Jo Graber Award is being presented to Isabella Hardeman from Murray State College (Oklahoma) for her accomplishments in softball. The David Rowlands Award goes to Austin Richens from Northwest College (Wyoming), a men’s wrestling athlete. Elijah Palmer from Surry Community College (North Carolina) will receive the Lea Plarski Award for exemplifying sportsmanship and leadership as a baseball player. Brianna Oliver from Northwest Shoals Community College (Alabama) is set to receive the Champion Award as a softball student-athlete.
Dr. Christopher Parker, President and CEO of NJCAA said: “Celebrating the achievements of our student-athletes is incredibly special every year. These individuals are very deserving of their awards, and we are proud of the way they represent themselves, their schools, and our association.”
In addition to these honors, new inductees into the NJCAA Hall of Fame will be recognized along with this year’s Difference Maker Award recipient by the NJCAA Foundation. Full stories about each award winner will be released soon.
Tickets to attend this event cost $125 per person with registration required.
