The impact of student-athletes goes beyond moments of athletic brilliance.
The 2026 NCAA Impact Award winners, who will be recognized at the NCAA Convention, challenge that perspective and serve as a powerful reminder that true impact has much deeper roots.
From organizing campus wide initiatives and mentoring peers to leading volunteer efforts and forging connections that last a lifetime, they embody the core pillars of the NCAA Impact Award — athletic excellence, academic achievement and service to their campuses and communities — and showcase what it truly means to be a student-athlete.
Together, they represent the heart of collegiate athletics: not just competing but also uplifting others and creating impact that goes beyond the field of play.
Ella Brissett, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's tennis
Ella Brissett's legacy at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps is rooted in championships and mentorship.
As a women's tennis student-athlete, she earned multiple national and conference honors for her efforts on the court. She received recognition from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association as an All-American in doubles twice and notched a semifinal appearance at the ITA Cup. Her postseason performances are headlined by her victories in NCAA tournament play and back-to-back national team championships. Brissett delivered the title-clinching point in the 2022 championship, displaying her leadership and resolve.
"I was passionate about what it means to be a Division III student-athlete and getting to compete at the highest level in the NCAA," she said. "Going from junior tennis, where it's more individual, and then getting to compete at the Division III level, where there's a team-oriented aspect, is what I'll take most with me … getting to be on a team and working for something bigger than myself."
Brissett carried that perspective onto campus and into the community, establishing the Women's Empowerment in Sports Club, which builds bridges between female student-athletes on campus and their respective communities. Club members planned engaging activities and panels to empower young girls year-round and in support of National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Her mentorship and service continued as a peer mentor for Women in STEM, a Title IX peer leader, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representative and intern with the Keck Science Department. Brissett volunteered at the House of Ruth domestic violence outreach agency, helped with youth engagement at local elementary schools and served as a triage assistant at a free women's health clinic.
Off the court, she earned some of the most prestigious awards in collegiate athletics. Brissett was named the Division III Commissioners Association Women's Sport Student-Athlete of the Year and the ITA Ann Lebedeff Leadership Award winner. She was awarded the ITA Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award, which recognized her commitment to character, leadership and community impact. Brissett was also nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year, earning a spot as one of 30 finalists. Her leadership extended beyond academics and athletics, as reflected in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Character Award, underscoring her role as a model student-athlete who embodies integrity, service and sportsmanship.
Brissett graduated with a degree in biology and garnered College Sports Communicators Academic All-America first-team honors. She was a consistent member of the SCIAC All-Academic Team and achieved recognition as an ITA Scholar-Athlete. She also has five peer-reviewed publications in print.
"I was very certain that I wanted a balance of competitive athletics but also the opportunity to focus on interests outside of sports as well," Brissett said. "I think (Claremont-Mudd-Scripps) had the best combination of a very strong tennis team but also academically, where I could focus on my biology degree and my extracurriculars."
She aspires to be a physician with a focus on women's health and academic medicine, to mentor the next generation of physicians. Brissett is currently involved in a fellowship that is working toward expanding cervical cancer screening for women in Kenya.
Mia Levy, Yale women's rowing
Mia Levy's journey as a student-athlete at Yale was rooted in community and relationships.
"I hope that when people hear my story, that's what they take away," Levy said. "It is all about community. It's all about the bonds we make and the way those bonds shape people and how we help each other grow."
As a captain for the Bulldogs, Levy helped foster that sense of community and belonging, which produced an NCAA championship last season for the first varsity boat. Levy sat in the six seat for that victory and other notable wins over top programs like Dartmouth and Princeton. Levy's athletics accomplishments are highlighted by back-to-back first-team All-Ivy selections, two first-team All-America honors from the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association, selection as a Top 30 honoree for the NCAA Woman of the Year award, and the CRCA's Division I Athlete of the Year award. Levy attributes these accolades to the culture that Yale has built.
"I think when you make people feel welcomed and empowered - helping them know that they belong - they flourish," Levy said. "They're motivated to be their best self in all ways, not just athletic competition, but in terms of being a good human."
This perspective and leadership style carried over into Levy's commitment to community service. While at Yale, Levy co-led the Athlete Ally chapter and was a peer writing tutor on campus and with the Yale Prison Education Initiative. Levy also interned at New Haven Public Schools in the human resources department, working to develop a mentorship program for educators of color. Access and equality are important to Levy, who plans to continue advocacy efforts in those areas.
Off the water, Levy's academic successes garnered recognition regionally and nationally. Levy is a two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honoree and a three-time CRCA Scholar-Athlete. Levy graduated from Yale with a degree in English.
Brayden Long, Slippery Rock football
On Brayden Long's visit to Slippery Rock, it became evident that the football program underlined the three core pillars of his life - academics, athletics and service to others.
"I visited and immediately felt the connection. The family atmosphere that coach (Shawn) Lutz and his staff were able to establish for me felt like home," Long said. "Slippery Rock was the best balance of both football and academics, I felt. The sport management major is very well-known across the country."
For his work in the classroom, Long was recognized by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference as Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year twice, named the Division II Conference Commissioners Association Atlantic Region Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year and selected as a national finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which goes to the top scholar-athlete from all levels of college football. His other academic accolades include a pair of College Sports Communicators Academic All-America selections and the CSC Academic All-American of the Year for Division II. Long was also a recipient of the NCAA Division II 50th Anniversary Scholarship, which was awarded to student-athletes who exemplified the division's Life in the Balance philosophy through high-level athletics competition, academic achievement, campus involvement and community engagement.
Long was quarterback for The Rock in a way that extended off the field.
"Quarterback is a lifestyle," he said. "You're a quarterback off campus, too. You're a quarterback by the way you act in the classroom. You're a quarterback by opening a door for someone or smiling to someone on campus or saying thank you to a cafeteria worker. You're a quarterback in all aspects of life. … But I always made it a point to myself that I'm going to do more than just play quarterback on the field. I'm going to be a great person off the field, in the classroom, on campus and in the community."
Long's leadership was evident in the locker room as he was voted captain twice by his teammates. His legacy is cemented in Slippery Rock history as the all-time leader in completions and completion percentage, headlined by a national semifinal appearance. Long is a two-time All-Region and PSAC West honoree, in addition to being the PSAC West Offensive Athlete of the Year in 2023. He was named a national finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, considered the Division II equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. He is the first student-athlete from Slippery Rock to receive the Impact Award.
He served as an officer on Slippery Rock's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, assisted with the Special Olympics and was an annual volunteer for Dr. Seuss Day as part of the Read Across America program.
Long is now a quarterbacks and wide receivers coach at Shippensburg, aspiring to have the same lasting impact on his student-athletes as the coaching staff at Slippery Rock had on him. He attributes his accomplishments to his time at Slippery Rock.
"From the top down there, they put you in situations to succeed. And you can feel it."
Aino Martikainen, Franklin Pierce women's soccer
Finland native Aino Martikainen sought academic and athletic excellence. After hearing about Franklin Pierce and its women's soccer team, her path became clear - become an NCAA student-athlete.
"I have always valued my education," Martikainen said. "I wanted to compete at a high level but also have opportunities to study and focus on my education. And I'd say my institution made it easy for me to be successful."
Martikainen earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and completed her MBA in health administration during her tenure at Franklin Pierce. Highlighting her academic achievements are a pair of College Sports Communicators Academic All-America first-team selections and the Northeast 10 Conference Presidents' Award for Academic Excellence.
Outside of the classroom, she could be found on campus championing mental health awareness, being a peer mentor and serving on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. For Martikainen, all three of those areas are of great import for student-athletes.
"During my internship as a peer counselor on campus … I got to raise awareness for mental health and have conversations with students who were struggling with their mental health," Martikainen said. "I've seen firsthand how much things can impact students and those around them. For me, it was nice to get to be a part of those initiatives."
On the pitch, Martikainen was a three-year starter and team captain. She saw action in 65 matches and started each one as a defender. She has been athletically recognized since her freshman season, earning several conference player of the week awards in addition to earning the Northeast 10 Defensive Player of the Year award twice. She was twice named a first-team All-American by both the Division II Conference Commissioners Association and United Soccer Coaches.
Her impact at Franklin Pierce is etched in history, as she helped lead the Ravens to a pair of NCAA East Region titles and the 2024 Division II national semifinal. Martikainen was most recently tabbed as the 2025 Northeast 10 Conference Woman of the Year, the second student-athlete in school history to receive the honor.
Martikainen's goal now is to work in a field where she can leverage her academic and athletic experiences to help other student-athletes with their well-being and overall health.
Micaylon Moore, Nebraska track and field
"Dream more, do more, become more."
That's a mission turned guiding principle in every facet of life for former Nebraska track and field student-athlete Micaylon Moore.
Moore brought these words to life through his dedication to helping others, surpassing 200 hours of community service. He could be found assisting in a classroom at a local school, volunteering at an athletics event or helping out on a service trip to Ecuador. On campus, he co-founded both the Black Student-Athlete Association and Husker Healers, an organization for student-athletes interested in health care careers. He also served six years on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for Nebraska. Moore's community impact was recognized through honors like the Big Ten Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award, Nebraska Heart & Soul Award and the Sam Foltz 27 Hero Leadership Award. He also earned six consecutive selections to the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team - an honor named after the legendary coach and athletics director that recognizes student-athletes for significant community service, mentoring, and strong academics and athletics.
"I think (community service) goes beyond just inspiring people," Moore said. "Inspiring people is one thing, but empowering them is another. I feel like empowering others is fulfilling the purpose of my life, and being a student-athlete gave me access to do more for others."
Moore quickly became one of the most decorated jumpers in program history. A two-time U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-America first-team member in the indoor triple jump and a second-team All-American outdoors, he consistently performed at the highest level on the national stage. He captured the Big Ten Conference 2024 indoor triple jump title and added silver medals in the long jump (2024 outdoor) and triple jump (2025 indoor). His name is written in the Nebraska record books with top-five all-time marks in the triple jump and a top-seven mark in the long jump. Moore dedicates these individual successes to the community that surrounds him.
"Nebraska's resources and the coaching staff," Moore said. "I had an Olympic level coach who really transformed my vision on where I could see myself going in the sport."
A College Sports Communicators Academic All-America first-team selection in 2025 and second-team honoree in 2024, Moore also earned repeated recognition as a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and as a five-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. His commitment to scholarship was further highlighted by earning the Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship, the Big Ten Medal of Honor and the Wayne Duke Award in 2025. He was a four-time recipient of the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award.
When reflecting on his time at Nebraska, Moore gleams with pride. "I would characterize my experience at Nebraska in one word: special. The things that I was able to accomplish and learn really helped me grow into a better person. It allowed me to become who I always desired to be when I chose Nebraska originally."
Moore graduated from Nebraska with a degree in biology and hopes to continue to have a positive impact on others by becoming a physician.
Matt Wrather, John Carroll football
"My life motto is be the best version of yourself and make others around you better as well," said Matt Wrather, a former John Carroll student-athlete.
It's a motto that he would soon recognize as the foundation of the Blue Streaks football program while on his official visit.
"I instantly fell in love with (John Carroll)," he said. "From the values and the people I met, the head coach at the time, I just fell in love. When you first step foot on campus, you realize - oh, this is the place I want to be."
Those values of service and accountability were already deeply embedded into Wrather's core by his family. At John Carroll, Wrather participated in the Jesuit Day of Service, an annual tradition that mobilizes volunteers to support community partners across Cleveland. He served on planning teams to organize community members and partner with local organizations, and he was a student coordinator who managed over 90 volunteers in beautification efforts at the Fatima Family Center, a nonprofit serving local families.
Wrather earned a spot on the 2024 Allstate Good Works Team for his dedication to serving the community. He co-founded John Carroll's Student Alumni Association, aiming to strengthen connections between students and alumni. As vice president of finance, he helped recruit over 200 alumni and 150 students while successfully organizing several major events.
"You have a bigger impact in life than you realize, and that's what makes it so cool to give back, because you never know how or what people will take away from that experience with you," Wrather said.
Academically and athletically, Wrather is one of the most decorated student-athletes in John Caroll's recent history. He garnered the Rimington Award in 2024, being recognized as the nation's top center in Division III. He was also selected as an All-American by D3football.com, the American Football Coaches Association and the Associated Press. Wrather was named the Ohio Athletic Conference Ken Wable Offensive Lineman of the Year in both 2023 and 2024. He is a three-time All-OAC first-team honoree and three-time D3football.com All-Region first-team selection. The accolades continued for him in the classroom, highlighted by being selected to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America first team for the 2024 season and second team for the 2023 season and being John Carroll's male winner of the 2024-25 OAC Clyde A. Lamb Scholar-Athlete Award.
Since graduating from John Carroll with a degree in business, Wrather has worked as a district manager at Aldi. He continues his volunteer work, in addition to serving on the board of directors for the Gridiron Club for the Blue Streaks.
"John Carroll instilled the character traits that I have today - hard work, discipline and consistency," Wrather said. "My teammates and I always called it being a man of Carroll, which is giving back to others and holding yourself to high standards."
