Sally Thalken, recently retired coach of the North Platte Community College Lady Knight volleyball team was awarded National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) Service Award at its 74th Annual Meeting in Tucson, Ariz. In March.

The NJCAA Service Award is awarded to the individuals who made significant contributions to the NJCAA on a national level for an extended period of time.

In the NJCAA news release which was released on Monday, April 6, reads, “The winningest coach in the history of NJCAA DII volleyball, Sally Thalken has established herself as one of the most successful coaches ever in two-year college athletics. Having just completed her 34th season at North Platte (Neb.), Thalken’s 921 wins are the fourth-most all-time at any level of NJCAA volleyball. Since her arrival in 1981, the Knights have claimed five district titles yielding four appearances at the NJCAA DII Volleyball Championship along with participation at the 1984 NJCAA Volleyball Championship prior to the sport breaking into divisions. Thalken has had 11 players receive All-America honors, including Carolyn Williams and Michelle Jankovits who earned first team recognition. Her contributions to the sport were recognized by her peers in 2003 when she was inducted into the NJCAA Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.”

There were four national recipients of the award.  Other recipients of the Service Award were: Francis Flax from Brown Mackie College; Cleo Hill from Essex County College and Jim Southward from the Mississippi Board for Community Colleges.

To read the full NJCAA news release go to www.njcaa.org.