A pioneer in women's sports, Lea Plarski has seen tremendous changes and improvements across athletics, serving as an advocate, leader, and teacher. In 1995, the NJCAA created the Lea Plarski Award, an annual award that is presented to an NJCAA student-athlete who exemplifies sportsmanship, leadership, community service, academic excellence, and athletic ability. Plarski dedicated many years of service to the association and was the athletic director at St. Louis Community College (MO). 

Plarski was instrumental in establishing the Women's Division of the NJCAA in 1975 - the first national collegiate athletic organization to develop such a structure. Plarski served as Vice President of the NJCAA Women's Division from 1975-90 and was tabbed president of the NJCAA in 1990, becoming the first woman to do so.

Plarski's fingerprints are on the 1994 Olympic Festival that took place in St. Louis and Southwestern Illinois. Some of her other involvements include the Women's Sports Foundation, the Amateur Softball Association, and the American Bowling Congress. Known for her tireless dedication to student-athletes, the Augusta, Kansas native received a lifetime achievement award from the St. Louis Sports Commission in 2020.