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 former director of athletics at St. Louis Community College - Florissant Valley (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. She served as Vice President of the NJCAA Women's Division from 1975-90. In 1990 she was tabbed as NJCAA President, becoming the first woman to hold the top elected position in the association. Known for her tireless dedication to student-athletes, the Lea Plarski Award honors her numerous accomplishments and service to the NJCAA.
| LEA PLARSKI AWARD RECIPIENTS | |||||
| YEAR | NAME | SPORT(S) | COLLEGE | ||
| 2022-23 | Michelle Thao | Volleyball | Surry (NC) | ||
| 2021-22 | Pablo Marques | Men's Soccer | Indian Hills (IA) | ||
| 2020-21 | Gracelyn LaForge | Volleyball | Johnson County (KS) | ||
| 2019-20 | Abigail Burnett | Volleyball | Parkland (IL) | ||
| 2018-19 | Jackson Wenstrom | Baseball | Hudson Valley (NY) | ||
| 2017-18 | Josh Harper | Baseball | Central Florida | ||
| 2016-17 | Courtney Calkins | Softball | Iowa Lakes | ||
| 2015-16 | Cassie Kuizin | Softball | Heartland (IL) | ||
| 2014-15 | Kendyl McDougald | Women's Track & Field | Johnson County (KS) | ||
| 2013-14 | Chris Blanton | Baseball | Lake-Sumter State (FL) | ||
| 2012-13 | Sierra Downs | Women's Cross Country | Mercer County (NJ) | ||
| 2011-12 | Cassie Dumoulin | Women's Basketball | Elgin (IL) | ||
| 2010-11 | Abby Barnett | Women's Cross Country | Bevill State (AL) | ||
| 2009-10 | Jocelyn Fisher | Women's Tennis | SUNY Adirondack (NY) | ||
| 2008-09 | Geofrey Kalanzi | Men’s Soccer | Dakota County Tech (MN) | ||
| 2007-08 | Christopher Glaze | Baseball | Jones County (MS) | ||
| 2006-07 | Angela Verbeelen | Softball | Florida State-Jacksonville | ||
| 2005-06 | Patrick Lepper | Men's Basketball | John Wood (IL) | ||
| 2004-05 | Kayla Shaul | Women's Golf | Daytona State (FL) | ||
| 2003-04 | Theresa Berry | Volleyball | Bevill State-Fayette (AL) | ||
| 2002-03 | Melanie Mendrop | Women's Soccer | Hinds (MS) | ||
| 2001-02 | Jermaine Harris | Football | Georgia Military | ||
| 2000-01 | Mindy Madewell | Women's Basketball | Connors State (OK) | ||
| 1999-00 | Larry Scheller | Men's Soccer | Belleville Area (IL) | ||
| 1998-99 | Sarah Wood | Women's Soccer | St. Louis-Meramec (MO) | ||
| 1997-98 | Douglas Bates | Baseball | Pensacola State (FL) | ||
| Terra Sarnacki-Royer | Women's XC/T&F/HM | SUNY Cobleskill (NY) | |||
| 1996-97 | George Russell Sanders | Football | Jones County (MS) | ||
| Amy Lucas | Women's Tennis | Middle Georgia State | |||
| 1995-96 | John Combs | Men's Basketball | Lees (KY) | ||
| Amy Parker | Women's Basketball/Softball | Jones County (MS) | |||