2026 NJCAA Hall of Fame and Awards presented by Nufabrx

The NJCAA Foundation has announced its sixth annual NJCAA Hall of Fame and Awards event ceremony to take place Thursday, June 18, 2026, at 6:30 PM ET at the Hilton Charlotte University Place in Charlotte, NC. With a mission to recognize the best in two-year college, the event will acknowledge exemplary achievements from individuals involved with the association, past and present.

The 2026 NJCAA Hall of Fame class includes:

• Bernadette Locke-Mattox - Former head coach of the University of Kentucky women's basketball team. While at Kentucky in 1990, she became the first female to serve as assistant coach for a men's NCAA Division I basketball team, when she served under Rick Pitino. She formerly served as an assistant coach with the Connecticut Sun of the WNBA. Played basketball at Roane State Community College (TN) before transferring to the University of Georgia.
• Pete Mickeal – Two-time basketball national champion at Indian Hills Community College (IA) and drafted #58 overall in the 2000 NBA Draft to the Dallas Mavericks. Considered one of the greatest American players to play professional basketball in Europe.
• Fran Garmon – Guided Temple Junior College (TX) to the first ever National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Women’s Basketball Championship in 1975. Served as head coach for U.S. teams at the 1979 World University Games and the 1983 Pan American Games, directing the USA to gold medals in both events. International experience also includes serving as an assistant coach with the USA Select Team in 1978, manager for the 1981 USA Junior National Team, head coach of the 1982 USA National Team, and assistant coach for the 1983 World Championship Team.
• Art Becker – After a standout professional basketball career in the American Basketball Association, he brought his talents to Scottsdale Community College (AZ), where he served as athletic director and NJCAA administrator, including a six year stint as NJCAA president/chair from 2005 to 2011.

Along with the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, the association's three annual individual student-athlete awards will be recognized – the Betty Jo Graber Female Student-Athlete of the Year, the David Rowlands Male Student-Athlete of the Year, and the Lea Plarski Award.

For the sixth time in the Association's history, two additional awards will be recognized at the awards event – the Champion Award and the Difference Maker Award. The Champion Award honors a member or former member of the NJCAA community who exemplifies resilience, excellence, and passion. The Difference Maker Award honors a supporter of the association and the NJCAA Foundation in its endeavors

For sponsor inquiries:
Click here for 2026 Sponsorship Package

For questions, please contact:
Christopher Haley
Assistant Executive Director, NJCAA Foundation
chaley@njcaa.org | (719) 716-7811