NIAA - Farmers Insurance - Lifetouch Photography Top 10 Student-Athlete of the Year winners honored

May 21, 2011 - The (NIAA) Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (the non-profit governing body of high school athletics & activities in the Silver State), the Farmers Insurance Group (the NIAA's co-presenting sponsor of championship events) and Lifetouch (the NIAA's official photography company) are proud to present once again this 2011-12 Top Ten Student-Athletes of the Year awards program for both Northern and Southern Nevada.

Please click here:  NIAA - Farmers - Lifetouch Top 10 Student-Athlete Nomination Form to download the application.

The Northern Nevada banquet will be held Monday, May 21, 6:00 p.m. at a site to be announced in the Reno-Sparks area. The Southern Nevada banquet will be held Wednesday, May 23, 6:30 p.m. at a site to be announced in the Las Vegas-Henderson area.

Just what or who is a Top Ten Student-Athlete of the Year?

The Top Ten Student-Athletes of the Year award is given to not just the top high school athletes in the Silver State but rather to those student-athletes who exemplify total school and community involvement. Special consideration in the selection process is given to student-athletes who participated in multiple sports, other school and student government activities, and community service projects while at the same time maintained a high academic status within their school.

"This is an outstanding event which recognizes student-athletes who exemplify what high school activities and athletics are all about," says Mr. Eddie Bonine, Executive Director of the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association. "While the requirements sound restrictive, we know these student-athletes exist as evident by the group of individuals we have with us tonight. It is our goal through the Top Ten program to find and honor these superb individuals."

All candidates must be seniors. The general categories include scholastic achievement (class rank, non-weighted grade point average, number of semesters on the honor roll, number of honors classes taken, and ACT and SAT scores), overall sports participation (number of varsity sports, number of varsity letters, and individual and team achievements), other contributions (school and church activities, and community service accomplishments), an essay, and letters of recommendation. The Top Ten Student-Athletes of the Year in both Northern Nevada and Southern Nevada, as selected by a panel of judges, are then honored with a formal dinner banquet.

Winners receive commemorative awards from the NIAA and its sponsors. The awards include a $1,500 (one-time) scholarship, a souvenir portrait, a Top Ten souvenir newspaper edition and a NIAA Courtesy Card. Winners are asked to invite seven guests, free of charge, to share in the banquet.

The Top Ten Student-Athletes of the Year award banquets began in 1996. The banquets are presented by the Farmers Insurance Group and Lifetouch National School Studios, Inc. The banquets are once again supported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Reno Gazette-Journal and KRNV-TV (NBC Channel 4 in Reno).

For more information about the banquets, its sponsors or any of the many other special programs conducted by the NIAA, please call the NIAA office at (775) 453-1012. The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association is the private, non-profit governing body of high school athletics in the Silver State.