Recognition and awards in college athletics

There are over 460,000 student-athletes enrolled in universities across the United States. Student-athletes are under constant pressure not only to maintain a high grade point average, advance toward a degree or certificate, and balance a challenging internship program each semester, but they are also challenged to excel in their sport. Screaming fans, demanding coaches, and dreams of someday playing professionally can make some students feel pressured to put their sport at the forefront of their studies.

Because of this effort, institutions, conferences and university sports regulators give awards and recognition to the most outstanding student athletes.

Institutional awards : All institutions give different awards but the most common ones are :

• Best student athlete of the year for each specific sport
• Best team of the year for each specific sport
• Awards for the whole team in case of winning the conference or any championship
• Award for the best sports program of the institution
• Award for the sports program with the best GPA
• Award for the best student athlete of the institution

Regulatory bodies awards : There are different regulatory bodies in university sport, each with its own universities. These entities are the NCAA, NAIA or NJCAA. Every year, the regulatory bodies award prizes for the most outstanding competitors

• Award for the best student athlete of the year for each specific sport
• Award for the best student athlete of the year (Theodore Roosevelt Award)
• Prize for each conference winning team
• All America Award, a “team” is formed with the best student athletes from different institutions in the field of sports
• Academic All America Award, a “team” of the best student athletes in the academic field is formed

Conference Awards: In the United States, every university competes in a conference, so there are many conferences throughout the United States. The conferences give different awards with respect to each specific sport but the most common and general ones are :

• Award for the best student athlete of the year for each specific sport
• Prize for each winning conference team, this includes the famous conference rings
• All Conference Award, a “team” is formed with the best student athletes from different institutions in the field of sports
• Award for the student athletes with the best grades