The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) is the governing body of two-year college athletics, offering endless athletic and academic opportunities to college students. It is the second largest national intercollegiate athletic organization in the United States with over 500 member schools in 43 states. Each year over 50,000 student-athletes compete in one of 28 different sports and the organization sponsors 48 national championship events and nine football bowl games each year. For more visit www.njcaa.org. 

With minimal changes, the NJCAA academic awards program has been in place since 1983.  

The NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Awards were previously known as NJCAA Academic All-American honors. The NJCAA has renamed its academic awards program to the following:


NJCAA Pinnacle Award for Academic Excellence (4.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale)
NJCAA Award for Superior Academic Achievement (3.80 to 3.99 on a 4.00 scale)
NJCAA Award for Exemplary Academic Achievement (3.60 to 3.79 on a 4.00 scale)

Known honorees from Rock Valley College are:
2024-2025
David Bertolasi (Golf)
Ashley Russell (Softball)
Grant Schroeder (Baseball)
Maddie Smith (Volleyball)
Emma Ambrose (Women's Soccer)
Maya Johnson (Golf)
Nadia Casanova (Softball)
McKenzie Culvey (Softball)
Troy McLeese (Baseball)
Yubani Espinoza (Men's Soccer)
Aidan Montes (Men's Soccer)
Nathan Perkins (Men's Bowling)
Dash Denton (Baseball)
Naitzy Garcia (Women's Soccer)
Sam Vetter (Softball)
Keyla Suarez (Women's Soccer)
Christian McGrath (Baseball)
Jorge Leon (Men's Soccer)
Megan Redig (Golf)
Christine Venditti (Softball)
Riley Freeman (Women's Bowling)
Edwin Navas (Men's Soccer)
Cooper Gillette (Baseball)
Jadyn Shaw (Softball)
Cooper Kuemmel (Baseball)
Nick Mardis (Baseball)
Kennedy Buck (Women's Basketball/ Volleyball)
Madison Davenport (Women's Bowling)
Kaylee Harter (Women's Bowling)
Makayla Henline (Softball)
Isaac Stewart (Golf)
Nathan Dorado (Men's Soccer)
Emma Fistarol (Volleyball)
Christian Bauer (Men's Bowling)
Grant Marshall (Baseball)
Mason Lei (Baseball)
Mya Potter (Volleyball)
Grace McClain (Softball)
Jameson Johnson (Baseball)
Ayden Sulzener (Men's Bowling)

2023-2024
Christine Heinisch (Women's Soccer)
Molly Kable (Softball)
Emma Krueger (Softball)
Richard Powell (Baseball)
Alison Hassett (Softball)
Carly LaMay (Women's Basketball)
Nick Mardis (Baseball)
Ariana Moreno (Women's Soccer)
Nathan Perkins (Men's Bowling)
Megan Redig (Golf)
Preston Sewell (Baseball)
Christine Venditti (Softball)
Sam Vetter (Softball)
Landon Weishaar (Men's Soccer)
Christopher Welzien (Men's Bowling)
Chase Wiese (Baseball)
Emma Ambrose (Women's Soccer)
Madison Davenport (Women's Bowling)
Israel Delgado (Baseball)
Isabella Garrelts (Women's Soccer)
Maisie Green (Volleyball)
Jorge Leon (Men's Soccer)
Troy McLeese (Baseball)
Aiden Montes (Men's Soccer)
Connor Mooney (Men's Bowling)
Ashley Russell (Softball)
Briella Sendele (Softball)
Madeline Smith (Volleyball)
Riley Stiles (Softball)
Ayden Sulzener (Men's Bowling)
Connor Williar (Baseball)

2022-2023
Morgan Bond (Softball)
Madison Carlson (Softball)
Alison Hassett (Softball)
Riley Stiles (Softball)
Molly Kable (Softball)
Sam Pritchard (Baseball)
Ricky Powell (Baseball)
Michael Spano (Baseball)
Jocelyn Eggert (Bowling
Kyley Olson (Bowling)
Isabella Garrelts (Soccer)
Julia Theien (Soccer)
Blessing Nwotite (Basketball)
Carly LaMay (Basketball)
Bautista Elizalde (Golf)
Jarrett Van Briesen (Golf)
Nate Burdin (Golf)
Hayley Starkey (Volleyball)
Ella Dorn (Volleyball)
Maisie Green (Volleyball)
Connor Curry (Soccer)

2021-2022
Kaycia Zimmerman (basketball)
Rachel Rittmeyer (basketball/soccer)
Jade Newson (basketball)
Samantha Ingram (volleyball)
Izandra Graf (volleyball)
Holland Smits (volleyball)
Hayley Starkey (volleyball)
Madison Koelker (volleyball)
Lexi Trank (soccer)
Julia Theien (soccer)
Tegan Peterson (bowling)
Joanna Mae Araojo (bowling)
Nate Tepp (bowling)
Madison Carlson (softball)
Kayla Freiberg (softball)
Allison Rataczak (softball)

2020-2021
Chris Akelaitis (basketball), Exemplary
Gage Armstrong (baseball), Exemplary
Sara Benner (softball), Superior
Gabby Braatz (softball), Superior
Elizabeth Cizek (softball), Superior
Meghan Drucker (volleyball), Superior
Ben German (baseball), Superior
Izandra Graf (Volleyball), Pinnacle
Dylan Hamil (Bowling), Superior
Samantha Ingram, (Volleyball) Superior
Tyler Ingrnam (baseball), Pinnacle
Scout Kram (Softball), Exemplary
Abigail McKinley (Volleyball), Pinnacle
Bryce Miller (baseball), Exemplary
Isaias Nieto (soccer), Superior
Tegan Peterson (bowling), Superior
Alyssa Ranchero (softball), Exemplary
Kaitlin Regnier (softball), Pinnacle
Kelli Riordan, (softball) Superior
Rachel Rittmeyer (soccer), Pinnacle
Elizabeth Schriner (softball), Superior
Holland Smits (volleyball), Superior
Jacob Sommer (baseball), Superior
Isabella Tauscher (softball), Superior
Ryan Wilwers (baseball), Exemplary
Tim Zalabak (baseball), Exemplary
Kaycia Zimmerman (basketball), Pinnacle

2019-2020
Cara Alexander (softball), Exemplary
Zachary Baden (baseball), Exemplary
Camryn BeDell (softball), Exemplary
Sara Benner (softball), Exemplary
Brett Beuthin (bowling), Superior
Christopher Cuppini (baseball), Exemplary
Kristin Fudge (softball), Pinnacle
Maria Hilby (women's basketball), Superior
Haley Holt (softball), Exemplary
Joslin Johnson, (bowling) Exemplary
Ashton Melaas (softball), Exemplary
David Mitchell (baseball), Exemplary
Kelsey Olson (bowling), Pinnacle
Kaitlin Regnier (softball), Superior
Elizabeth Schriner (softball/volleyball), Superior
Jacob Sommer (baseball), Superior
Eric Steiner (baseball), Exemplary
Collin Truitt (baseball), Pinnacle
Tegan Woods (baseball), Exemplary

2018-2019
Danielle Beierschmitt (volleyball), Superior
Brett Beuthin (bowling), Exemplary
William Blank (baseball), Superior
Zac Cummins (baseball), Exemplary
Kristin Fudge (softball), Pinnacle
Camila Hallmann (volleyball), Exemplary
Sawyer Kiefier (bowling), Exemplary
Candace Kipp (softball), Exemplary
Sarah Landerholm (women's soccer), Exemplary
James Marcinkowski (baseball), Superior
Cade Meier (baseball), Exemplary
Dave Mitchell (baseball), Superior
Kimberly Neidich (women's soccer), Exemplary

2017-2018
Mohammad Alamidi (men's soccer), Superior
Emily Cox (women's basketball/softball), Exemplary
Breanna Crown (softball), Exemplary
Eric Durand (baseball), Pinnacle
Stephanie Grose (volleyball), Pinnacle
Cesar Hernandez (men's soccer), Exemplary
Jaylen Jones (men's basketball), Superior
Candace Kipp (softball), Superior
Sarah Landerholm (women's soccer), Exemplary
James Marcinkowski (baseball), Superior
Kallie Rundle (softball), Exemplary
Jessie Schiro (women's basketball/women's soccer), Superior
Madison Shaw (softball), Superior
Michaela Spanbauer (softball), Exemplary
Molly Speers (softball), Exemplary
Kenzie Theien (women's soccer), Exemplary

2015-2016
Hayley Anderson (women's basketball), Exemplary
Shannell Boettcher (women's soccer), Exemplary
Kristi Ebbers (softball), Pinnacle
Bethany Fiedler (volleyball), Superior
Toula Goumas (women's soccer), Exemplary
Sadey Jumapao (women's soccer), Exemplary
Hannah Long (softball), Superior
Eden Meier (softball/volleyball), Exemplary
Dalton Menke (men's basketball), Pinnacle
Ellyn Menke (softball), Exemplary
Alyssa Nelson (volleyball), Superior
Kendalynn Rockey (softball), Pinnacle
Dakota Watson (softball), Superior

2014-2015
Hayley Anderson (women's basketball), Exemplary
Shannell Boettcher (women's soccer), Exemplary
Kristi Ebbers (softball), Pinnacle
Bethany Fiedler (volleyball), Superior
Toula Goumas (men's soccer), Exemplary
Sadey Jumapao (women's soccer), Exemplary
Hannah Long (softball), Superior
Eden Meier (softball, volleyball), Exemplary
Dalton Menke (men's basketball), Pinnacle
Ellyn Menke (softball), Exemplary
Alyssa Nelson (volleyball), Superior
Kendalynn Rockey (softball), Pinnacle
Dakota Watson (softball), Superior


2013-2014
Paul Burd (golf), Superior
Aleesha Cleaver (women's basketball), Exemplary
Daniel Delaughter (men's tennis), Exemplary
Mark Delaughter (men's tennis), Superior
Aubrie Sabin (women's tennis), Superior


2012-2013
Michael Landerholm (golf), Pinnacle

2011-2012
Elliott Day (golf), Pinnacle
Emily Ollman (women's basketball), Superior
Ryan Blume (baseball), Exemplary

2010-2011
Elliott Day (golf), Pinnacle
Zachary Kloster (golf), Exemplary
Lindsay Lengjak (women's basketball), Exemplary
Kelsey Scarpetta (softball), Exemplary

2009-2010
None

2008-2009
Noelle Bennett (volleyball, softball), Distinguished Academic All-American
Shane Holden (men's tennis), Academic All-American
Lincoln Lichty (football), Academic All-American
Hannah Radford (volleyball), Distinguished Academic All-American

2007-2008
Chris Grimm (baseball), Academic All-American
Jessica Moore (women's basketball), Distinguished Academic All-American
Ryan Sanden (baseball), Distinguished Academic All-American
Kaitlin Slocum (volleyball), Distinguished Academic All-American
Jeff Weberg (men's basketball)

2006-2007
None

2005-2006
Rhett Gunderson (men's tennis), Academic All-American
Tim Muldowney, (men's tennis), Academic All-American

2003
Danny Beeman (men's tennis), Academic All-American
Katie Cooling (women's tennis), Academic All-American
Stephanie Lund (softball), Academic All-American

2002
Andrea Carlson (volleyball), Academic All-American
Bria Holzinger (volleyball), Academic All-American

2001
Marc Kinnemann (football), Academic All-American

1993-94
Ehren Jarrett (men's basketball), Academic All-American