Nic Joseph named Knightly News Athlete of the Year
By Paul Miller
Knightly News Co-Adviser
For senior outfielder Nic Joseph, the final award of his Central Penn College career was one he never saw coming.
During the 2026 Central Penn Athletics Banquet last week, Joseph was announced as the recipient of the Knightly News Athlete of the Year Award, an honor presented annually to a student-athlete who exemplifies excellence in athletics, academics and support of student media.
Since its creation in 2019, the award has recognized student-athletes who not only perform at a high level in competition, but who also serve as positive representatives of Central Penn Athletics and valuable partners to the student reporters and broadcasters of the Knightly News.
Joseph is the seventh student-athlete and the third Knight’s baseball player to be given the award. In previous years, Connor Graham (2019), Ja-Lynn Burton-Jones (2020), Sydney Bubb (2022), Nate Jean-Philippe (2023), Andrew Hunter (2024) and Owen Zell (2025) took the award home.
For Joseph, the recognition was a surprise.
“Looking over all the awards tonight on the itinerary, I only knew of two that I’d be receiving,” Joseph said. “After that amazing speech, hearing my name announced as the recipient of that award was truly amazing. It’s the little things in life that can amaze you, but I felt like the biggest in that room.”
Joseph’s selection comes after being a part of one of the most successful eras in Central Penn baseball history. During his career, he helped lead the Knights to three ESAC conference championships in 2024, 2025 and 2026 while also contributing to two Small College World Series appearances in 2025 and 2026.
On the field, Joseph established himself as one of the program’s most dependable players and leaders.
In 2026, Joseph had an amazing season, even though he mentioned on the Knightly News Podcast that he had battled injuries all year.
Below are Joseph’s statistics and team ranks from the 2026 season:
- Batting average – .378 (3rd with 25+ at bats)
- Doubles – 7 (tied for 2nd)
- RBI – 30 (4th)
- Slugging Percentage – .646 (3rd with 25+ at bats)
- On-Base Percentage – .535 (2nd)
- Two walk-off base hits (March 26 and April 28)
While his athletic accomplishments played a major role in his selection, the award extends beyond statistics and on-field performance.
During the presentation, Knightly News Co-Adviser Paul Miller noted that recipients are evaluated in three areas: athletic achievement, classroom success and their willingness to support student media members throughout the academic year.
“As many of you know, the Knightly News broadcasts all home baseball games and men’s and women’s basketball games throughout the academic year,” Miller said during the banquet. “That means our students spend a tremendous amount of time around our athletic programs. They are at games, practices, interviews, podcasts and events throughout the year. Quite honestly, our students learn very quickly who people really are.”
According to Miller, Joseph consistently stood out.
“This year’s recipient consistently stood out in all the right ways,” Miller said. “Whether after difficult losses, during frustrating stretches of the season or while participating in interviews and our Knightly News Podcast, this student-athlete was consistently professional, approachable and supportive of our students.”
Over the years, Joseph became a familiar face to Knightly News reporters, broadcasters and podcast hosts. Whether participating in pregame interviews, postgame discussions or feature stories, he was known for being accessible, thoughtful and willing to help students gain experience in sports media.
“One of the things I appreciated most was that our students genuinely enjoyed working with him,” Miller said. “He brought personality, energy and authenticity to interviews and conversations, and that made our broadcasts and coverage stronger throughout the year.”
For Joseph, that relationship with the Knightly News was something he valued as well.
“I’ve always enjoyed working with you and your team, from the podcasts to the pre/post-game interviews,” Joseph said. “I’m so glad to be able to call myself a Knight and I’m forever grateful for my experiences there at Central Penn.”
Those experiences helped define a career that extended far beyond baseball.
Whether competing for conference championships, representing the college in the classroom or supporting fellow students through interviews and media opportunities, Joseph consistently represented Central Penn in a first-class manner.
As he prepares to graduate and begin a career in criminal justice, he leaves behind a legacy of leadership, professionalism and commitment to both Central Penn athletics and the Knightly News Media Club.
For the students who worked alongside him throughout the years, those qualities are exactly what the Knightly News Athlete of the Year Award was created to recognize.