NCAA Award of Valor Facts for Kids

The NCAA Award of Valor is a special honor given by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). It celebrates people involved in college sports who show amazing bravery and courage. This award recognizes those who act heroically when facing danger, helping to prevent or lessen a bad situation.

What is the Award of Valor?
Who Can Get This Award?
When is the Award Given?
Heroes Who Received the Award
See also

What is the Award of Valor?

The Award of Valor is for people who show great strength and boldness when facing danger. It's given to current coaches or administrators in college sports, or to current or former athletes from NCAA schools. They receive the award for actions where they bravely faced danger to help others.

Who Can Get This Award?

People who work in the armed forces or police can also receive this award. However, their actions must be far beyond what is normally expected of them in their job. The award is not given every year automatically. Instead, it is given when someone performs a truly heroic act during the previous school year.

When is the Award Given?

The NCAA presents the Award of Valor during a special celebration. This event happens at the NCAA's yearly meeting.

Heroes Who Received the Award

Many brave people have received the NCAA Award of Valor for their heroic actions. Here are some of them:

Charles G. "Lefty" Driesell (1974)

Charles G. "Lefty" Driesell was a men's basketball coach at the University of Maryland. In 1974, a fire destroyed several homes. Coach Driesell bravely broke into a burning building. He then helped to get children out of the fire, saving them from harm.

Timothy J. McCarthy (1982)

Timothy J. McCarthy was a former football player at the University of Illinois. Later, he became a United States Secret Service agent. In 1981, he was wounded during an attempt to harm President Ronald Reagan. Agent McCarthy stepped in front of the President. He took a bullet to protect the President, risking his own life. He recovered fully from his injury.

Joseph A. Delaney (1984)

Joseph A. Delaney was an amazing football and track athlete at Northwestern State University. He was also a rising star with the Kansas City Chiefs football team. In 1984, Delaney sadly passed away while trying to save three young people from drowning. He showed incredible courage in his final moments.

Jimmy Baxter (2004)

Jimmy Baxter played basketball for the University of South Florida. In 2004, he saved two men who were stuck in their car. This happened after a very serious car crash. His quick thinking and bravery helped save their lives.

Emily Perez (2008)

Emily Perez graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 2005. She was recognized for her strong leadership and bravery. She passed away while serving in Iraq. Her unit in the U.S. Army honored her for her courage and leadership after her death.

Douglas A. Zembiec (2008)

Douglas A. Zembiec graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1995. He was a major in the U.S. Marines. He showed great heroism in several dangerous situations before he passed away while serving in Iraq.

Roxana Saberi (2009)

Roxana Saberi is a journalist. In 2009, she faced difficulties while working in Iran. She maintained her innocence and was eventually freed. She returned home to the United States in January 2009. Roxana Saberi studied at Concordia College, Northwestern University, and King's College, Cambridge University.

NCAA Award of Valor facts for kids

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