|  | The NCA Luminary Award | The NCA Distinguished Leadership Award | The NCA Rising Star Award | The NCA Volunteer of the Year Award | 
	| Category | Innovator/Game Changer | Leadership | Emerging Young Professional | Volunteer | 
	| Award Description | The NCA’s highest recognition for an individual whose extraordinary and groundbreaking contribution(s) has been a driving force of positive change and has had a significant, profound, and lasting impact on the coffee community. | The recipient of this special honor has demonstrated exceptional leadership, unwavering service, and dedication to the U.S. coffee community. | This award recognizes a young professional (under the age of 40 with a total of 5 to 10 years of experience in the coffee industry) whose contributions exceed expectations, demonstrating exceptional growth and impact, and indicating a promising future for both them and the entire coffee industry. 
 
 | This award honors a remarkable individual whose coffee-related volunteerism went above and beyond expectations, made a profound impact, and served as an inspiration to others to serve with purpose. 
 The recipient of this award exemplifies the spirit of service, showing leadership, compassion, and a lasting impact on both the coffee and broader communities.
 
 
 | 
	| Level of Contribution | Recognition can be for a single contribution. | This prestigious award is presented to individuals who have made notable leadership contributions to education, advocacy, and/or the development of connections and community within the coffee sector. This award recognizes sustained leadership, service, and contributions over time, rather than for a single act. 
 
 | The award is for exceptional creativity, forward-thinking, innovative ideas, and inspiring leadership skills, rather than for a single act. | Recognition can be for a single contribution or a sustained contribution over time. | 
	| Time period of contribution | Open-ended | Open-ended | Open-ended | Open-ended | 
	| NCA Membership Required for Nominee? | No | Current or prior member of the NCA in good standing. 
 Nominations may be made to present the award posthumously.
 
 
 | The nominee must be a current member of the NCA in good standing. | Nominee must have worked for an NCA member company during the year in which they are nominated. | 
	| Self-nomination allowed? | No | No | No | No | 
	| Nomination | 
			A minimum of four (4) nominations is required, but a maximum of six (6) nominations may be submitted.
		 
			
 
			Required Nominations:
		 
			One (1) Lead Nomination from an NCA member.Two (2) Supporting Nominations from NCA members.One (1) Supporting Nomination from either an NCA member or a non-member. 
			Additional Nominations (Not Required)
		 
			There may be up to two (2) additional Supporting Nominations from NCA members or non-members. | 
			A minimum of three (3) nominations is required, but a maximum of four (4) nominations may be submitted by NCA members or non-members.
		 
			
 
			Required Nominations:
		 
			One (1) Lead Nomination.Two (2) Supporting Nominations 
			Additional Nominations (Not Required)
 
		 
			There may be one (1) additional Supporting Nomination submitted. 
		 | 
			A minimum of two (2) nominations is required, but a maximum of four (4) nominations may be submitted by NCA members or non-members.
		 
			
 
			Required Nominations:
		 
			One (1) Lead Nomination.One (1) Supporting Nomination. 
			Additional Nominations (Not Required)
		 
		 
			There may be up to two (2) additional Supporting Nominations submitted. 
		 
		 | 
			A minimum of one (1) nomination is required, but a maximum of four (4) nominations may be submitted by NCA members or non-members.
		 
			
 
			Required Nominations:
		 
			Additional Nominations (Not Required)
		 
			There may be up to three (3) additional Supporting Nominations submitted. | 
	| Language | Nominations must be in English. | Nominations must be in English. 
 
 | Nominations must be in English. | Nominations must be in English. | 
	| Submission deadline | November 7, 2025 | November 7, 2025 | November 7, 2025 | November 7, 2025 | 
	| Full award details | See Details | See Details | See Details | See Details |