2024 Student-Athlete of the Year Awards Announced

May 29, 2024

Charlotte, NC - The NJCAA has announced the three prestigious annual NJCAA Student-Athlete of the Year awards that will be presented during the NJCAA Foundation Awards event, held on Thursday, June 6 at the Hilton Charlotte University Place at 6:30 PM ET.

The event will recognize the NJCAA Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year, the Lea Plarski Award winner, the Champion Award winners, and the Difference Maker Award winner, in addition to the 2024 class of the NJCAA Hall of Fame.

To learn more regarding the NJCAA Foundation Awards event, visit: NJCAA Foundation Awards

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. The illustrious awards are the Betty Jo Graber Award NJCAA Female Student-Athlete of the Year, David Rowlands Award NJCAA Male Student-Athlete of the Year, and the Lea Plarski Award.

The Betty Jo Graber Award was created by the NJCAA in 1992. Graber was an influential leader in the Association and helped pioneer the creation of the Women's Division of the NJCAA in 1975. Graber was a leader that exhibited dedication, service, and resilience - traits that are recognized annually to the top female student-athlete with the award named in her honor. The 2023-24 Betty Jo Graber NJCAA Female Student-Athlete of the Year has been presented to Rossana Papa of Cowley College (KS) women's volleyball.

Launched at the start of the 1992-93 academic year, the David Rowlands Award annually honors the superior athletic achievements of a male student-athlete. Greatly respected by his peers and colleagues, he was the perfect model of hard work, discipline, ethics, and excellence in two-year college athletics. The David Rowlands Award honors his passion and commitment to the NJCAA and annually recognizes a student-athlete that best exhibits these traits. The 2023-24 David Rowlands NJCAA Male Student-Athlete of the Year award has been presented to Thiago Jose Da Silva of Monroe College (NY) men's soccer.

Created in 1995, the Lea Plarski Award is presented annually to an NJCAA student-athlete who exemplifies sportsmanship, leadership, community service, academic excellence, and athletic ability. The honor is named after former NJCAA Lea Plarski in recognition of her tremendous service to the association. The 2023-24 NJCAA Lea Plarski Award has been presented to Kaylyn Rogers of Kansas City Kansas women's basketball.