Nissen Emery Award

Since 1966, college gymnastics' highest honor, the Nissen Award, has been presented annually to that year's outstanding senior collegiate gymnast. From 1966 through 1989 the award nomination, selection and presentation process was managed by the Nissen Company. IBM sponsored the award in 1990. USA Gymnastics sponsored the award from 1991-97. In 1998 Dr. Robert W. Emery, the 1969 winner, agreed to help the C.G.A. finance the redesigning of the Award and establish an endowment that would indefinitely cover the annual expenses associated with it.

The Nissen-Emery Award does not only honor the collegiate senior gymnast who has established an outstanding record of achievement during his college career. More than simply an award for gymnastics excellence, the winner must also meet these requirements:

He must be an example of good sportsmanship and fair play...a champion in defeat as well as in victory.
He must maintain a high standard of scholarship throughout his college career.

College gymnastics coaches, student athletes and accredited college gymnastics judges all across the nation are requested each year to submit nominations for the award. Gymnasts receiving the highest number of nominations are then placed on a final ballot and voted upon by those same coaches, athletes and judges.

The award presentation is held annually at the NCAA Gymnastics Championships.

The "Heisman Trophy" of gymnastics, the Nissen-Emery Award is inscribed with the following motto: "The true champion seeks excellence physically, mentally, socially, and morally."

Past Recipients

Colt Walker (2024 Winner) Stanford University

2024 Nominees:

Javier Alfonso, University of Michigan

Ashton Anaya, University of Illinois

Garrett Braunton, Air Force Academy

Syam Buradagunta, U.S. Naval Academy

Aidan Cuy, William & Mary

Michael Fletcher, University of Illinois

Jack Freeman, University of Oklahoma

Donovan Hewitt, Ohio State University

Connor McCool, University of Illinois

Noah Newfield, University of California, Berkeley

Sam Phillips, University of Nebraska

Evgeny Siminiuc, University of Michigan

Colt Walker, Stanford University

Paul Juda (2023 Winner) University Michigan

2023 Nominees:

Brandon Briones, Stanford University

Chase Clingman, Penn State University

Spencer Goodell, University of Oklahoma

Riley Loos, Stanford University

Christian Marsh, William & Mary

Donte McKinney, University of Nebraska

Ian Skirkey, University of Illinois

Brody Malone (2022 Winner) stanford University

2022 Nominees:

Hamish Carter, University of Illinois

Mathew Davis, Army

Charlie Giles, University of Nebraska

Vitaliy Guimaraes, University of Oklahoma

Evan Kriley, University of Nebraska

Jesse Tyndall, Ohio State University

Josh Williams, U.S. Naval Academy

Shane Wiskus (2021 Winner) University of Minnesota

2021 Nominees:

Andrew Bitner, Stanford University
Bennet Huang, University of Iowa
Blake Sun, Stanford University
Cameron Bock, University of Michigan
Matt Wenske, University of Oklahoma

Stephen Nedoroscik (2020 Winner) Penn State

2020 Nominees:
Jake Bonnay, University of Nebraska
David Jessen, Stanford University
Michael Paradise, University of Illinois
Bailey Perez, Stanford University
Sam Zakutney, Penn State University

Yul Moldauer (2019 Winner) University of Oklahoma

2019 Nominees:
Grant Breckenridge, Stanford University
Alex Diab, University of Illinois
Jacopo Gliozzi, William & Mary
Vitali Kan, University of Minnesota
Justin Karstadt, University of Minnesota
Anton Stephenson, University of Nebraska
Alec Yoder, Ohio State University

Sean melton (2018 Winner) Ohio State University

2018 Nominees:
Joel Gagnon, University of Minnesota
Austin Hodges, University of Iowa
Hunter Justus, University of Oklahoma
Kyle King, University of Nebraska
Robert Neff, Stanford University
Brandon Ngai, University of Illinois

Akash Modi (2017 Winner) Stanford University

2017 Nominees:
Allan Bower, University of Oklahoma
Neal Courter, William & Mary
Zach Liebler, University of Minnesota
Jake Martin, Ohio State University
Joey Peters, University of Illinois
Colin Van Wicklen, University of Oklahoma
Timothy Wang, U.S. Air Force Academy

Jesse Glenn (2016 Winner) Army

2016 Nominees:
Jack Boyle, University of Iowa
Logan Bradley, University of Illinois
Trevor Howard, Penn State University
Brian Knott, Stanford University
Ethan Lottman, University of Nebraska
Kanji Oyama, University of Oklahoma
Kevin Wolting, University of California, Berkeley

Ellis Mannon (2015 Winner) University of Minnesota

2015 Nominees:
Adrian de los Angeles, University of Michigan
Craig Hernandez, Penn State University
C.J. Maestas, University of Illinois
Alec Robin, University of Oklahoma
Sean Senters, Stanford University

Sam Mikulak (2014 Winner) University of Michigan

2014 Nominees:
Donothan Bailey, University of California, Berkeley
Zack Chase, Uiversity of Minnesota
Presten Ellsworth, University of Oklahoma
Adrian Evans, Penn State University
Landon Funiciello, William & Mary
Michael Newburger, Ohio State University
Chris Turner, Stanford University
Kip Webber, Army

Eddie Penev (2013 Winner) Stanford University

2013 Nominees:
Syque Caesar, University of Michigan
Steven Lacombe, University of California, Berkeley
Yoshi Mori, University of Illinois
Garrek Hojan-Clark, Army
Alex Tighe, Temple University
Felix Aronovich, Penn State University

Paul Ruggeri III (2012 Winner) University of Illinois

2012 Nominees:
Andrew Faulk, U.S. Naval Academy
DJ Repp, University of Minnesota
Ty Echard, Ohio State University
Miguel Pineda, Penn State University
Glen Ishino, University of California, Berkeley

2011 Winner: Steven Legendre, Oklahoma - Coach: Mark Williams
Nominees:
Tim Gentry, Stanford
Brandon Wynn, Ohio State
Bryan Del Castillo, California
Kyle Bunthuwong, California
Danial Ribeiro, Illinois
Chris Cameron, Michigan

2010 Winner: Luke Stannard, Illinois - Coach: Justin Spring
Nominees:
Jonathan Buese, Iowa
David Chan, Michigan
Aaron Fortunato, Minnesota
Derek Gygax, William & Mary
Nicholas Noone, Stanford
Kyle Shanahan, Nebraska
Andrew Stover, Illinois-Chicago

2009 Winner: Casey Sandy, Penn State University - Coach: Randy Jepson
Nominees:
Jake Bateman, Ohio State
Kit Beikmann, Minnesota
Chris Brooks, Oklahoma
Kyson Bunthuwong, University of California
Phil Goldberg, Michigan
Sho Nakamori, Stanford
T.J. Schmidt, Nebraska
Jacob Schonig, U.S. Air Force Academy

2008 Winner: Jonathan Horton, University of Oklahoma - Coach: Mark Williams
Nominees:
D.J. Bucher, Ohio State
Wes Haagensen, Illinois
Derek Helsby, Penn State
Tim McNeill, University of California
David Sender, Stanford
Luke Vexler, Temple University

2007 Winner: Matt Cohen, Penn State University - Coach: Randy Jepson
Nominees:
Jacques Bouchard, Iowa
Brian Carr, Oklahoma
Peter Derman, Stanford
Willie Ito, Ohio State
Justin Laury, Michigan
Jake Lee, Minnesota
Tim Morrison, Illinois-Chicago

2006 Winner: Justin Spring, University of Illinois - Coach: Yoshi Hayasaki
Nominees:
Chad Buczek, Penn State
Nate Downs, Stanford
Jamie Henderson, Oklahoma
Gerry Signorelli, Michigan
Ramon Jackson, William & Mary
Michael Reavis, Iowa

2005 Winner: Guillermo Alvarez, University of Minnesota - Coach: Mike Burns
Nominees:
Graham Ackerman, California
Randy Monahan, Ohio State University
Ben Newman, Illinois
Luis Vargas, Penn State

2004 Winner: Dan Gill, Stanford University - Coach: Tom Glielmi
Nominees:
Jeffrey Andersen - U.S. Air Force Academy
David Eaton - University of California
Jamey Houle - Ohio State University
Jamie Northrup - College of William and Mary
Bob Rogers - University of Illinois
Quinn Rowell - University of Oklahoma
Kevin Tan - Penn State University

2003 Winner: Daniel Furney, University of Oklahoma - Coach: Mark Williams
Nominees:
Aaron Jackson - Airforce
Cameron Schick - Iowa
Clay Strother- Minnesota
Cody Moore - Cal
Kevin Donahue - Penn State
Marshall Erwin - Stanford
Raj Bhavsar - Ohio State

2002 Winner: Justin Toman, University of Michigan - Coach: Kurt Golder
Nominees:
Don Jackson, The University of Iowa
J.G. Ketchen, University of Illinois
Troy Pazcoguin, Army
David Johnston, University of Oklahoma
Michael Kelly, University of California-Santa Barbara
Clayton Kent, University of Massachusetts
Grant Clinton, University of Nebraska

2001 Winner: Jamie Natalie, Ohio State University - Coach: Miles Avery
Nominees:
Kevin Agnew, The University of Iowa
Dominic Brindle, Penn State University
Jason Hardabura, University of Nebraska
Scott Harris, United State Military Academy
Leo Oka, University of Illinois
Brendan O'Neil, University of Oklahoma
Kevin Roulston, University of Michigan

2000 Winner: Jeff Lavallee, The University of Massachusetts - Coach: Roy Johnson
Nominees:
Jose "Lalo" Haro, The University of Michigan
Jason Katsampes, Stanford University
Huy Ly, The University of Oklahoma
Michael Moran, Temple University
Michael Morgan, The Ohio State University
Travis Romagnoli, The University of Illinois
Brandon Stefaniak, Penn State University
Todd Strada, The University of Iowa
Guard Young, Brigham Young University

1999 Winner: Todd Bishop, University of Oklahoma - Coach: Greg Buwick
Nominees:
Adrian Johnston, University of Iowa
Jim Koziol, University of Nebraska
Peter Landry, Ohio State University
Josh Nelson, University of California - Santa Barbara
Ron Roeder, Penn State University
Stephen Pryor, University of Massachusetts
Kyle Zak, University of Illinois

1998 Winner: Dan Fink, University of Oklahoma - Coach: Greg Buwick
Nominees:
Greg Bosch, James Madison University
Chris Camiscioli, University of Iowa
Jon Corbit, University of Illinois-Champaign
Paul Mendoza, University of California-Santa Barbara
Bill Mulholland, University of Nebraska
Fabricio Olsson, Brigham Young University

Ethan Sterk, Michigan State University
Evgenii Zherebchevskiy, Univ. of California-Berkeley

1997 Winner: Blaine Wilson, Ohio State University - Coach: Peter Kormann
Nominees:
Ian Bacharach, Stanford University
Casey Bryan, University of Oklahoma
Carl Imhauser, Temple University
David Kruse, University of California
Scott McCall, William and Mary
Joe Roemer, Penn State University
Keith Wiley, Stanford University

1996 Winner: Darrin Elg, Brigham Young University - Coach: Mako Sakamoto
Nominees:
Jason Christie, University of Nebraska
Peter Braxton Hegi, Stanford University
Steve Marshall, U.S. Military Academy
Chase Penny, Univ. of Illinois-Chicago
Ofri Porat, Syracuse University
Blaz Puljic, University of New Mexico
Jay Thornton, University of Iowa

1995 Winner: Josh Stein, Stanford University - Coach: Sadao Hamada
Nominees:
Danny Akerman, Temple University
Richard Grace, Nebraska
Rick Kieffer, Nebraska
Brian Kobylinski, U. of Illnois
Daniel Stover, U. of Oklahoma
Sebronzik Wright, College of William & Mary
Brian Yee, U. of Minnesota

1994 Winner: Kip Simons, Ohio State University - Coach: Peter Kormann
Nominees:
Mark Booth, Stanford University
James Guay, U.C. - Berkeley
Dennis Harrison, Nebraska
Mohamad Haque, U.S. Military Academy
Barry McDonald, U. of Illinois - Chicago
Tom Meadows, University of Oklahoma
Greg Umphrey, UCLA

1993 Winner: John Roethlisberger, University of Minnesota - Coach: Fred Roethlisberger
Nominees:
Ricardo Cheriel, University of Illinois
Marcus Jordan, University of Oklahoma
James Knopp, Ohio State University
Matthew Landress, Kent State University
Jair Lynch, Stanford
Mike Masucci, Penn State University
Chainey Umphrey, UCLA

1992 Winner: Scott Keswick, UCLA - Coach: Art Shurlock
Nominees:
Bill Roth, Temple University
Dominick Minicucci, Temple University
Paul Bautel, University of Iowa
Tim Ryan, Stanford University
Joel Miller, U.S. Air Force Academy
Richard Hoag, Springfield College
Jody Newman, Arizona State University
Adam Carton, Penn State University
Jason Brown, Brigham Young University
Mark Brodman, U.C. - Santa Barbara
Dave Williams, College of William & Mary

1991 Winner: Jarrod Hanks, University of Oklahoma - Coach: Greg Buwick
Nominees:
Brad Bryan, University of Nebraska
Jay Caputo, University of Minnesota
Erik Heikkila, University of Iowa
Dave Mansky, Kent State University
Terry Notary, U.C.L.A.
Hector Salazar, So. Connecticut State Univ.
Mark Sohn, Penn State University

1990 Winner: Mike Racanelli, Ohio State University - Coach: Peter Kormann
Nominees:
Jeff Dow, University of Iowa
Patrick Kirksey, University of Nebraska
Mark McKiernan, University of Minnesota
Chris Waller, UCLA

1989 Winner: David Zeddies, University of Illinois-Champaign - Coach: Yoshi Hayasaki
Nominees:
Mike Costa, University of Illinois-Chicago
Mike Epperson, University of Nebraska
Curtis Holdsworth, UCLA
Tom Vaughan, University of Oklahoma
Paul Wozniak, University of Iowa

1988 Winner: Tom Schlesinger, University of Nebraska - Coach: Francis Allen
Nominees:
Mike Dutelle, University of Wisconsin
Tigran Mkchyan, University of Illinois
David Moriel, UCLA
Keith Pettit, Michigan State University
Robert Sundstrom, University of California-Berkeley
Joe Thome, University of Iowa

1987 Winner: Michael 'Spider' Maxwell, Penn State University - Coach: Karl Schier
Nominees:
Collin Godkin, University of Minnesota
Steve Mikulak, University of California-Berkeley
Neil Palmer, University of Nebraska
Mike Rice, University of Oklahoma
Mitch Rose, University of Michigan
Luc Teurlings, UCLA

1986 Winner: Wes Suter, University of Nebraska - Coach: Francis Allen
Nominees:
Dan Bachman, University of Iowa
Tim Koopman, Temple University
Rob Campbell, UCLA
Jon Louis, Stanford University
Jim Niforatos, University of Illinois-Chicago
Joe Ledvora, University of Illinois-Champaign
Derrick Cornelius, Cortland State University

1985 Winner: Matt Arnot, University of New Mexico - Coach: Rusty Mitchell
Nominees:
Rick Atkinson, Iowa State University
Bobby Fleming, Temple University
Mark Oates, University of Oklahoma
Robert Playter, Ohio State University

1984 Winner: Roy Palassou, San Jose State University - Coach: Rich Chew
Nominees:
Mark Caso, UCLA
Tim Daggett, UCLA
Daren Dembrow, So. Connecticut State University
Brett Finch, Iowa State University
Mitch Gaylord, UCLA
Doug Kieso, Northern Illinois University
Mike Sims, University of Oklahoma
Randy Wickstrom, University of California-Berkeley

1983 Winner: Peter Vidmar, UCLA - Coach: Art Shurlock
Nominees:
Brian Babcock, Southern Illinois University
Matt Biespiel, S. Connecticut State University
Phil Cahoy, University of Nebraska
Peter Ditullio, United States Navel Academy
Bob Gavito, California State University-Fullerton
Scott Johnson, University of Nebraska
Kevin Kirks, Iowa State University
Steve Marino, Penn State University

1982 Winner: Jim Hartung, University of Nebraska - Coach: Francis Allen
Nominees:
Mike Bergman, University of California-Berkeley
Kelly Crumley, University of Iowa
Ron Howard, California State University-Fullerton
Randy Jepson, Penn State University
Brian Meeker, University of Minnesota
Bill Paul, University of California-Berkeley

1981 Winner: Bart Conner, University of Oklahoma - Coach: Paul Ziert
Nominees:
Scott Bram, Temple University
Ron Galimore, Iowa State University
Steve Lechner, University of Illinois

1980 Winner: Mario McCutcheon, So. Connecticut State College - Coach: Abie Grossfeld
Nominees:
Ed Babtkis, University of Southern California
Les Moore, University of Oklahoma
Casey Edwards, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Butch Zunich, University of Illinois
Stacy Maloney, Iowa State University

1979 Winner: Kurt Thomas, Indiana State University - Coach: Roger Counsil
Nominees:
Mike Burke, Northern Illinois University
Larry Gerard, University of Nebraska
Warren Long, University of California-Berkeley
Jeff Morrison, Georgia Tech
Paul Simon, Penn State University
Mike Wilson, University of Oklahoma

1978 Winner: Tim LaFleur, University of Minnesota - Coach: Fred Roethlisberger
Nominees:
Scott Barclay, Arizona State University
Don Dembrow, Southern Connecticut State College
Steve Kinnett, Houston Baptist University
Scott McEldowney, University of Oregon
Sam Shaw, California State University-Fullerton
Michael Silverstein, Temple University
Yoichi Tomita, California State University-Long Beach
Mark Trippel, Iowa State University

1977 Winner: Peter Kormann, Southern Connecticut State College - Coach: Abie Grossfeld
Nominees:
Tom Beach, University of California-Berkeley
Larry Cox, Arizona State University
John Hart, UCLA
Mark O'Malley, Western Michigan University
Kurt Pflieger, Penn State University
Doug Wood, Iowa State University

1976 Winner: Gene Whelan, Penn State University - Coach: Gene Wettstone
Nominees:
Larry Bilow, California State University-Northridge
Keith Heaver, Iowa State University
Mike Kavanagh, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Jeff LaFleur, University of Minnesota
Gene Mackie, University of Nebraska
Ted Marcy, Stanford University

1975 Winner: Jay Whelan, Southern Connecticut State College - Coach: Abie Grossfeld
1975 Winner*: Gary Morava, Southern Illinois University - Coach: Bill Meade
Nominees:
Gary Alexander, Arizona State University
Mike Carter, Louisiana State University
Orlando Fernandez, Indiana University
Mark Graham, Iowa State University
James Ivicek, Southern Illinois University
Wayne Young, Brigham Young University
*Special Award, posthumously recognized

1974 Winner: Steve Hug, Stanford University - Coach: Sadao Hamada
Nominees:
Paul Blasko, Indiana State University
Ben Fernandez, Indiana University
Doug Fitzjarrell, Iowa State University
James Kreust, Penn State University
Carl Walin, University of Iowa

1973 Winner: John Crosby, Southern Connecticut State College - Coach: Abie Grossfeld
Nominees:
John Aitken, University of New Mexico
Marshall Avener, Penn State University
Randy Balhorn, Michigan State University
Ray Gura, University of Michigan
Odess Lovin, University of Oklahoma
Jim Stephenson, Iowa State University
Eric Swanson, U.S. Naval Academy

1972 Winner: Tom Lindner, Southern Illinois University - Coach: Bill Meade
Nominees: Russ Hoffman, Iowa State University
Ted Marti, University of Michigan
William Mitchell, Penn State University
Brian Scott, Arizona State University
Dave Seal, Indiana State University
Dana Shelley, University of New Mexico
Dean Showalter, University of Iowa

1971 Winner: Brent Simmons, Iowa State University - Coach: Ed Gagnier
Nominees:
Ron Clemmer, Temple University
Stormy Eaton, University of New Mexico
George Greenfield, University of California-Berkeley
Yoshi Hayasaki, University of Washington
John Hughes, Brigham Young University
Rick McCurdy, University of Michigan
Paul Tickenoff, Northwestern Louisiana State

1970 Winner: Peter DiFurio, Temple University - Coach: Bill Coco
Nominees:
James Amerine, Southern Connecticut State College
Eric Courchesne, University of California-Berkeley
Kean Day, Louisiana State University
John Ellas, Northwestern Louisiana State
Rich Murahata, Michigan State University
Doug Peak, Iowa State University
Ron Rapper, University of Michigan
Richard Scorza, University of Iowa
Richard Swetman, Penn State University
Bruce Trott, Ohio State University

1969 Winner: Robert Emery, Penn State University - Coach: Gene Wettstone
Nominees:
Gary Diamond, University of California-Berkeley
Bob Dickson, University of Iowa
Richard Grigsby, California State University-Northridge
Dave Jacobs, University of Michigan

1968 Winner: Dave Thor, Michigan State University - Coach: George Szypula
Nominees:
Kanati Allen, U.C.L.A.
Sid Freudenstein, University of California-Berkeley
Mike Jacki, Iowa State University
Danny Millman, University of California-Berkeley
Dave Neimand, California State University-Sacramento

1967 Winner: Steve Cohen, Penn State University - Coach: Gene Wettstone
Nominees:
Robert Cargill, Springfield College
LaMoyne Durham, University of Southern California
Frank Fortier, Louisiana State University
Kenneth Gordon, University of Iowa
Gerry Peterson, Western Illinois University
Josh Robison, University of California-Berkeley

1966 Winner: James Curzi, Michigan State University - Coach: George Szypula
Nominees:
Rich Blanton, University of Michigan
Mark Cohn, Temple University
Rich Field, University of California-Berkeley
Terry Higgins - Air Force Academy
Edward Isabelle, Penn State University
Mike Lovell, University of Washington
Rusty Rock, California State University - Northridge