National Collegiate Quirk Association (NCQA) Hero Awards

“Where the Next Great Heroes Are Forged.”

The @National Collegiate Quirk Association (NCQA) Hero Awards stand as the highest collegiate honors in the @United States Of America Hero Education System — celebrating the courage, discipline, and legacy of the nation’s young heroes.

Hosted annually at the @Hero Honors Gala Arena in Washington, D.C., the ceremony unites students, guildmasters, and officials under one banner of purpose:
to recognize those who have risen beyond their limits in both Hero Work and Quirk Brawl competition.

Each honor represents a chapter in the journey from student to symbol — from raw potential to living legend.

@Freshman Hero of the Year Award

“The First Flame.”

Awarded to the first-year student who demonstrates immediate promise, strong discipline, and moral courage in their debut year of hero education.

Freshmen often enter the NCQA world with ambition, uncertainty, and untamed power — but those who rise to this award prove that heroism begins not with experience, but with spirit.

Trophy Design:
A silver torch with a shimmering blue flame, symbolizing the spark of new beginnings.

Criteria:

Excellence in Hero Work training or civic service
Academic and Quirk discipline
Display of integrity in adversity
Heroic Integrity Rating (HIR) of 80+

Symbolism:
The Freshman Hero of the Year stands as the “Promise of Tomorrow.”

@Sophomore Hero of the Year Award

“The Rising Force.”

Awarded to the second-year student who demonstrates remarkable growth, teamwork, and leadership both on the field and in the classroom.

This hero embodies the process of transformation — learning control, wisdom, and humility through trial.

Trophy Design:
A bronze wing rising from a transparent crystal base, representing ascension through perseverance.

Criteria:

Demonstrated improvement over freshman year
Success in cooperative missions or Quirk Brawls
Leadership among peers and mentoring younger students
High academic and Hero Work evaluations

Symbolism:
The Sophomore Hero of the Year is the “Force in Formation” — the moment potential becomes purpose.

@Junior Hero of the Year Award

Recognizing the third-year student whose balance of strength, intellect, and maturity makes them the tactical heart of their generation.

Junior heroes represent composure — veterans of the student ranks who lead by example and embody the professional ideals of the Heroes League of America.

Trophy Design:
A golden gauntlet holding a glowing star, symbolizing power guided by wisdom.

Criteria:

Superior performance in advanced Hero Work operations
Outstanding Quirk mastery and teamwork
Tactical leadership during high-pressure simulations
Heroic Integrity Rating (HIR) of 90+

Symbolism:
The Junior Hero of the Year is the “Guardian of Growth.”

@Senior Hero of the Year Award

The Senior Hero of the Year represents the culmination of a four-year journey through discipline, danger, and discovery.
They are the future Guildmasters, leaders, and legends of America’s heroic age.

This honor goes to the student who, through consistency and compassion, becomes a role model for all heroes who follow.

Trophy Design:
A platinum flame encased within a transparent alloy ring — unbreakable, eternal, and pure.

Criteria:

Exceptional record in both Hero Work and academic standing
Leadership in team operations and mentorship programs
National-level recognition in service or competition
Recommendation by Guild-affiliated mentors

Symbolism:
The Senior Hero of the Year is the “Standard-Bearer of the Future.”

The Class Honors: All-Class Hero Awards

In addition to individual class winners, each collegiate class as a whole may be recognized for collective excellence, earning a Class Commendation Trophy known as the All-Class Hero Award.

This distinction honors the top-performing hero cohort (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, or Senior class) across all NCQA universities that year — measured by teamwork, mission performance, and public impact.

All-Class Hero Trophies:

@Freshman Class of the Year — a ring of rising stars.
@Sophomore Class of the Year — twin wings surrounding a crystal sphere.
@Junior Class of the Year — engraved gold emblem with the NCQA seal.
@Senior Class of the Year — a permanent flame statue awarded to the graduating year’s top university team.

Winning an All-Class trophy is a collective triumph — a symbol of unity and legacy shared by an entire generation of student-heroes.

The Star and Stripe Hero of the Year

“The Spirit of America.”

The @The Star and Stripe Hero of the Year is the highest honor a collegiate hero can earn — the ultimate award within the @National Collegiate Quirk Association (NCQA), representing the perfect balance of power, compassion, leadership, and service.

Chosen from among the winners of the four Class Hero Awards, this title crowns the greatest collegiate hero in the @United States Of America for that academic year.

Selection Criteria:

Overall performance across the season
Heroic Integrity Rating (HIR) of 95+
National influence and public inspiration
Unquestionable moral conduct and selflessness

Trophy Description:
A massive silver-and-gold star set upon a striped platinum pedestal, representing the ideals of unity and heroism.
At its base is engraved the national motto:

Privileges:

Automatic induction into the Heroes League of America (HLA)
Lifetime NCQA Honors Membership
Featured on the Hero Network’s annual “Faces of the Future” broadcast
Full endorsement eligibility for Guild selection

Symbolism:
The Star and Stripe Hero stands as the collegiate symbol of the American Dream — the embodiment of courage that protects, inspires, and unites.

Ceremony of Heroes

The NCQA Hero Awards are held each June 30th, closing out the academic year.
The event begins with the four Class Hero Awards, crescendos with the All-Class presentations, and concludes with the unveiling of the @The Star and Stripe Hero of the Year — a title so revered that even professional Guild heroes attend to witness its crowning.

When the lights dim and the anthem swells, the audience rises not for fame, but for faith — faith in the next generation of heroes.

All U.S. States:
@California
@Utah
@Arizona
@Idaho
@Oregon
@Nevada
@Washington
@New Mexico
@Nebraska
@Texas
@Louisiana
@Tennessee
@Alabama
@Georgia
@Florida
@South Carolina
@North Carolina
@Virginia
@West Virginia
@Kentucky
@Oklahoma
@Ohio
@Indiana
@Minnesota
@Iowa
@Wisconsin
@Michigan
@Pennsylvania
@Maryland
@Delaware
@New Jersey
@New York
@Connecticut
@Rhode Island
@Massachusetts
@New Hampshire
@Vermont
@Maine
@Illinois