The Luminary Award

2025 Nomination Extended Deadline: Friday, November 26, 2024

The NCA Luminary Award is inspired by the definition of “luminary” as a person who inspires or influences others, especially one prominent in a particular sphere ( lexico.com). It is 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 NCA Luminary Award is selected not on an annual basis, but rather in recognition of an individual whose contributions are deserving of this exceptional honor. The NCA Luminary Award takes the place of the NCA Lifetime Achievement Award, the previous winners of which can be found below.

Nomination Process

All NCA members are welcome to submit a nomination.

Nominee must have made an extraordinary, groundbreaking, and game-changing contribution that has been a driving force of positive change and has had a significant, profound, and lasting impact on the coffee community.

Please review the Terms & Conditions for info on eligibility criteria and the nomination process for the NCA Luminary Award.

See NCA Luminary Award Eligibility and Nomination Requirements

Questions: Contact Terri Bartlett, Director of Member Relations at trbartlett@ncausa.org or at 646-924-4039.

Past Winners of the Award (formerly known as the NCA Lifetime Achievement Award):