May 28, 2010 -- The 2010 NIAA - Farmers Insurance - Lifetouch Photography Top 10 Student-Athletes of the Year in Southern and Northern Nevada have been announced and honored.

Please click here:  http://www.nevadapreps.com/NIAA_honors_top_student-athletes.html to view a listing of the winners (via www.nevadapreps.com). You may also click here:  http://www.lvrj.com/sports/top-10-student-athletes-recognized-92292864.html to see the announcement in the Las Vegas Review-Journal's on-line - print edition.

• Tatiana Chaker - Durango
• Paxton Fleming - Boulder City
• Heath Gould - The Meadows
• Jacob Hansen - Western
• Heather Hollinger - Canyon Springs
• Ryan Honey - Boulder Vity
• Daniel Mikkelsen - Virgin Valley
• Marissa Smerek - Lincoln County
• Starlyn Thomas - Cimarron-Memorial
• Andrew Topham - Palo Verde

RENO -- The 2010 NIAA - Farmers Insurance - Lifetouch Photography Top 10 Student-Athletes of the Year in Northern Nevada:

• Steven Carlson - Bishop Manogue
• Michael Ceragioli - Incline
• Delayni DeWitt - Eureka
• Skylar Estes - Lowry
• Aaron Greenblat - Reed
• Morgan Hines - Elko
• Sam Harris - Whittell
• Katie McFarran - Carson
• Kelsey Smith - South Tahoe

HISTORICAL LISTING OF NORTHERN NEVADA WINNERS

HISTORICAL LISTING OF SOUTHERN NEVADA WINNERS

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March 5, 2010 - 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 this 2009-2010 Top Ten Student-Athlete awards program.

Please note that Applications were DUE by Friday, March 26, 2010

Top Ten Application

Well-rounded group represents Nevada's very best

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 was 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."

Each school is requested to submit an application for one male and one female student-athlete. 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.