2023 Mary Ellen Leicht Service Award

Mary Ellen Leicht Service Award

Founded in 1959, the NJCAA Service Award is the most tenured honor handed out by the association. It is given to those - most often not an athlete - who have made significant contributions to two-year college athletics on a national level for an extended period of time. Annually, one Service Award can be reserved for a member of the media. In 2017, the NJCAA renamed the honor to the Mary Ellen Leicht Service Award in recognition of the 28 years of dedicated service by its third Executive Director. To view a list of past winners, visit: Mary Ellen Leicht Service Award Winners

Carl Heinrich – NJCAA Region 6 (KS)

Since 2018, Carl Heinrich has served as the Commissioner of the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC), being the eighth individual to serve as the conference's commissioner. Henrich is currently also the NJCAA Region 6 Board of Regents representative and is a member of the NJCAA Division II Men's Soccer and Women's Wrestling Committees. 

In his first year, KJCCC schools won four NJCAA National Championships and had six schools finish as national runners-up. Heinrich previously served as Athletic Director at Johnson County Community College for 16 years, served as the NJCAA Region 6 Women's Director for ten years, and has been part of numerous committees at the national level during his tenure. 

Prior to taking over as Commissioner, Heinrich served as Assistant Commissioner and was responsible for handling the day-to-day business of the office and served as the liaison to the KJCCC's athletic directors. Henrich has over 41 years of service in community college athletics. Prior to joining the KJCCC, Heinrich served 26 years on the campus of Johnson County Community College, where he served in several capacities including assistant baseball coach, head baseball coach, academic director for physical education and athletics, program manager for athletics, program coordinator for student activities, and served as a career counselor from 1991 until becoming an athletic director in 2000.

Heinrich's leadership and service to community college athletics have earned him praise and accolades throughout his career. He was named the NATYCAA Athletic Director of the Year for the 2007-08 academic year and was awarded the George E. Killian Award of Excellence, in 2011. 

Sherman Forbes – Mesa Community College (AZ)

Sherman Forbes serves as the Assistant Athletic Director and Eligibility and Compliance Director at Mesa Community College.  In his role at Mesa, Forbes has developed and administered the NJCAA eligibility online system for prospective and continuing students. The website contains eligibility guideline tools where coaches can obtain information important to student-athletes' academic and athletic eligibility within the athletic environment, as well as transfer information for student-athletes transferring to and from an NJCAA member and non-member institution. This system was created to minimize and ultimately eliminate the chance of certifying an ineligible student-athlete or having an ineligible student-athlete in an NJCAA-sanctioned sporting event.

On the national level, Forbes has demonstrated a deep commitment to involvement and supporting opportunities for the association's student-athletes.  Forbes is an at-large member of the NJCAA Board of Regents, serves as the NJCAA Region 1 Women's Assistant Director, and serves on several committees including the NJCAA Division II Women's Basketball Committee, the NJCAA Beach Volleyball Committee, and the NJCAA Division II Volleyball Committee.  Forbes is also an active member of the NJCAA Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Council. 

For all 2023 NJCAA Honors and Annual Award Winners, visit: 2022-23 NJCAA Award Winners

For all NJCAA Honors, please visit: NJCAA Honors Home