The NCAA will recognize the accomplishments of current and former student-athletes during the Honors Celebration at the NCAA Convention in Nashville. 

The annual event, which features recipients of the Theodore Roosevelt Award, Award of Valor, Inspiration Award, Silver Anniversary Award and Today's Top VIII Award, is set for 5 p.m. January 13 and will precede another Convention favorite, the Delegates Reception.

John H. Glenn Jr., retired United States senator and former NASA astronaut, will be on hand to accept the Association's highest honor as the 2008 NCAA Theodore Roosevelt Award recipient. Army's Emily Perez and Navy's Doug Zembiec, who are both deceased, will be honored posthumously with the Award of Valor while Yale's James MacLauren will be recognized as the Inspiration Award winner.

The NCAA Award of Valor is presented to a current or former coach, administrator or varsity letter-winner who, when confronted with a situation, involving personal danger, averted or minimized potential disaster by courageous action or noteworthy bravery. For members of the armed forces to be considered for this honor, the action must be clearly above and beyond the call of duty and so recognized by the appropriate military command.

The NCAA Inspiration Award is presented to a current or former coach, administrator or varsity letter-winner who, when confronted with a life-altering situation used perseverance, dedication and determination to overcome the event and now serves as a role model to give hope and inspiration to others in similar situations.

The Award of Valor and the Inspiration Award are not automatically presented on an annual basis.

The Silver Anniversary Award is presented to former student-athletes who have successfully finished their collegiate careers 25 years ago and gone on to excel in their chosen careers. The 2008 honorees are Theresa Andrews (University of Florida, swimming), Todd Blackledge (Pennsylvania State University, football), Cormac Carney (University of California, Los Angeles, football), Anne Donovan (Old Dominion University, basketball), Dot Richardson (University of California, Los Angeles, softball and basketball), Robin Roberts (Southeastern Louisiana University, basketball) and Robert Woodruff (Colgate University, lacrosse).

Eight current student-athletes will be recognized for their athletics success, academic accomplishments, community service and leadership as this year's Today’s Top VIII award winners. Recipients include Rachel Buehler, Stanford University, soccer; Roberto Castro, Georgia Institute of Technology, golf; Dennis Dixon, University of Oregon, football; Ben Wildman-Tobriner, Stanford University, swimming; Lisa Winkle, Calvin College, basketball and outdoor track; Jamie Wolf, Clarion University of Pennsylvania, diving; Sarah Pavan, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, volleyball; Sarah Zerzan, Willamette University, cross country and outdoor track.

Jack Ford, former NCAA Silver Anniversary Award winner, will emcee the Honors Celebration. An Emmy and Peabody award-winning journalist, nationally recognized trial attorney, author, and teacher, Ford attended Yale University, where he was a three-year starter on the varsity football team and later graduated from the Fordham School of Law. He currently is an anchor at Court TV and the host of the PBS series, “Inside the Law.”