Surry’s Elijah Palmer Receives Lea Plarski Award

Charlotte, NC – Former Surry baseball student-athlete, Elijah Palmer recently received the prestigious Lea Plarski Award at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Awards and Hall of Fame event at the Hilton Charlotte University Place in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Lea Plarski Award is presented annually to an NJCAA student-athlete who exemplifies excellence in athletics, academics, leadership and community service throughout his or her two-year college experience.

Palmer leaves Surry as one of the most decorated student-athletes in program history after a remarkable career on the field, in the classroom and throughout the community.  The Woodleaf, North Carolina native earned NJCAA Division III Baseball All-American (Second Team) honors during the 2025 season after helping lead Surry to the NJCAA Region 10 Championship, Mid-Atlantic District Championship, and an appearance in the NJCAA Division III Baseball World Series, where the Knights finished fifth nationally.  Palmer was named the Region 10 Player of the Year as a sophomore while also earning the distinguished ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove award posting a perfect fielding percentage. 

"Through sustained academic success, selfless community engagement, and exemplary leadership as a student-athlete, Elijah has made a lasting and meaningful impact on Surry and the broader community we serve, fully reflecting the spirit and purpose of this distinguished award," stated Surry Community College President, Dr. David Shockley.

Palmer's impact extended well beyond baseball. In the classroom, he graduated with honors from Surry while earning NJCAA All-Academic Second Team honors and earning multiple Region 10 All-Academic recognition.  He helped lead both the 2024 and 2025 Surry baseball teams to NJCAA All-Academic team honors.

Dr. Melissa Recknor, Associate Dean of Student Services, added, "Elijah took ownership of his education in a way that not every student, let along student-athlete, does, and it showed in everything he accomplished. That same drive carried over to the field."

Palmer's commitment to service also distinguished him throughout his collegiate career. He volunteered with the Surry County Sheriff's "Give a Kid a Christmas" Campaign, Surry County Special Olympics, Read Across America Day, youth baseball programs, local elementary schools, church outreach initiatives, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes activities.

"Elijah made a lasting impact on the community through his volunteer service and willingness to share his time and experiences," said Surry Athletic Director, Mark Tucker.  

After earning both an athletic and academic scholarship from NCAA Division I, St. Bonaventure, Palmer recently completed his first year with the Bonnies.   

Palmer becomes the second Surry student-athlete to earn the Plarski Award in the last four years.  Michelle Thao, a two-time NJCAA volleyball All-American earned the award in 2023.  Thao continued her academic and athletic career at the University of North Carolina – Asheville earning multiple honors including being named the Big South Conference Libero of the Year. 

Surry is the only college in the last ten years to have multiple student-athletes honored with the Lea Plarski award.  The Knights join Jones County (Mississippi), Johnson County (Kansas), and Heartland (Illinois) as the only NJCAA colleges ever to have multiple Plarski Award recipients. 

NJCAA Awards Ceremony Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-EIcybhqDU

 

The NJCAA's Lea Plarski Award is awarded annually in the name of former NJCAA President Lea Plarski as recognition of her tremendous service to the NJCAA and two-year college athletics. The former director of athletics at St. Louis Community College/Florissant Valley, Plarski helped to establish the Women's Division of the NJCAA in 1975.  She served as Vice-President for Women from 1975-1990 when she made NJCAA history as the first female ever elected to the office of President, a position she held from 1990-1996. In honor of her numerous accomplishments, as well as her undeniable dedication to the student-athlete, the NJCAA Lea Plarski Award was created.  Since 1995, the award has been presented to an NJCAA student-athlete who exemplifies sportsmanship, leadership, community service, academic excellence, athletic ability, and achievements – qualities that were the cornerstones of the Plarski "era".