About the NICA Awards

The annual NICA Awards recognize student athletes, coaches, volunteers, and partners who bring NICA's core values to life. They celebrate community, partnership, effort, and impact. These awards shine a light on individuals whose leadership and dedication to the sport of mountain biking have had meaningful influence - whether that impact has been felt within their team, league, or the entire NICA organization.

Join us in celebrating those within our outstanding community who are getting more kids on bikes by building, supporting, and improving NICA's interscholastic cycling movement.

Image

The 2022 nominations period has now closed. We'll be announcing award recipients soon.

Awards are given out across these six categories:
  • QBP Community Impact Award: The QBP Community Impact Award honors an individual whose efforts positively impacted youth, the community, and the organization. This individual is an outstanding representative of the organization internally and externally, dedicating exceptional time, expertise and enthusiasm to make a difference in the organization.
  • SRAM Coach of the Year Award: The Coach of the Year Award acknowledges a coach whose qualities as a leader and motivator embody NICA’s mission to provide student athletes with the coaching and camaraderie to help them achieve both competitive and non-competitive goals in a safe and enjoyable manner.
  • Student-Athlete Leadership Award: The Student-Athlete Leadership Award honors student-athletes who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, sportsmanship, academic performance, and volunteerism in their team, school, and community.
  • Trek Extraordinary Character Award: The Extraordinary Character Award recognizes student athletes who exemplify the NICA core values through their contributions to their team and community. These individuals have shown the ability to commit to an endeavor, persevere through challenge, excel in the sport of mountain biking as an individual and teammate, and serve as a role model for other student athletes.
  • NICA Distinguished Alumni Award: The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes a former student-athlete who carries the spirit of interscholastic cycling beyond their high school years. This alumni is an incredible ambassador for getting #MoreKidsOnBikes in any or all of the ways NICA celebrates mountain biking.
  • NICA Legacy Award: The Legacy Award honors an individual for their tremendous philanthropic support of NICA and NICA leagues. Recipients of this award understand the importance of empowering youth through sport and have put their energies behind efforts that exemplify the traits that help individuals and organizations achieve success.This individual is building a legacy by supporting NICA’s efforts over time and creating opportunities for the future.

Congratulations to all of our 2021 Nominees!

Clif Bar and Company Volunteer Service Award

Kevin Joell, Nevada
Daniel Schmidt, SoCal
Jen Malik, Ohio
Jan Cowell, Idaho
Doug Simpson, Montana
Nancy Dacier (McNelly), Virginia
Sandy Yazzi, Oregon
Carin Slader Wolfe, South Carolina

GU Energy Extraordinary Courage Award

Emma Mankus, Wisconsin
Magnus "Khai" Nobles, Arkansas
Adonai Soleto, Maryland
Jack Kuhlbars, Virginia
Mallory Clubb, Virginia

NICA Distinguished Alumni Award

Bhanu, Indiana
Charles Childers, Maryland
Eddie Andersone, Virginia

NICA League Founders Award

Carin Slader Wolfe, South Carolina
Dan Stewart, Strike Visuals

QBP Community Impact Award

Vikki Thompson, Arizona
Steve Mlujeak, Florida
Chris Mileski, Missouri
Scott Duvall, Kentucky
Curt Kurz-Edsall, South Carolina
Fred Bellis, Pennsylvania
Carin Slader Wolfe, South Carolina
Rick Bartels, Virginia

Teen Trail Corp Award

Joshua Murguia, Texas

Shimano Race Production Partner Award

Chris Mileski, Missouri
Giselle & Chandler Weekes, South Carolina
Louis Mazzante, Pennsylvania

Specialized Student-Athlete Leadership Award

Ella MacDonald, Missouri
Megan Lester, Wisconsin
Randy Yarnell Saldana, New Jersey
Owen Abendroth, Nebraska
Hayden Larson, Minnesota
Maximus Donohue, Virginia

SRAM Coach of the Year Award

Jennifer Morrow, Arkansas
Alicia Landis, North Carolina
Dorothy Sullivan, SoCal
Beth Ross, Wisconsin
Sydney Shimko, Wisconsin
Eli Makus, NorCal
Mike Lang, Virginia

Trek All Star Student-Athlete Award

Chloe Hong, Tennessee
Megan Lester, Wisconsin
Randy Yarnell Saldaña, New Jersey
Sam Lang, Virginia
Caleb Nevins, Virginia

Past NICA Award Recipients

Image

2021 NICA Award Recipients

Image

2019 NICA Award Recipients

Image

2018 NICA Award Recipients

Image

2017 NICA Award Recipients