Marissa Nichols

Classroom

A four-time academic all-conference member, Nichols has a 3.60 GPA in human services counseling. She is in the master of education program. She was named to the 2009 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 8 team. She is a member of the Dean’s List and was winner of the 2008 UNLV softball Scholar Athlete Award and a 2007 NFCA Academic All-American. Nichols has also received the Mountain West Conference Scholar-Athlete Award twice.

Character

She is the softball representative for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for the past two years. A team captain for five of her six years after struggling with injuries for almost three years. Nichols was recipient of the UNLV softball Rebel Pride award, Rebel Nation Comeback Player of the Year award, UNLV Sportswoman of the Year award, and UNLV’s Best of Las Vegas award. She is president of the Student Organization of Addiction Professionals, offering counseling services for different addictions. She also serves as chairperson and web master of the UNLV Chi Sigma Iota Honor Society.

Community

Nichols has logged more than 700 hours in internships, serving as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor and School Counselor. She is a service member for the 10,000 Kids Partnership of Nevada, working with special needs youth. She has been a school counselor at several elementary schools in the area. Nichols has logged hours volunteering for Special Olympics, Fellowship of Christian Athlete’s One Way to Play, Judith Steele’s Reading Week, Halloween Mart, Clark County Elementary School, Antonello Reading volunteer, UNLV Santa Clothes Project, Meals on Wheels, Breast Cancer Run, golf course volunteer, and Nevada Childhood Cancer Run for Life volunteer. She worked as a facilitator for the Nevada Association of Addiction Professionals’ annual conference and the Family of the Youth.

Competition

Nichols was a 2005 National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America first team selection and Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-West Region first team member. She is a two time Mountain West All-Conference team member and six-time conference player of the week honoree. She ranks high in UNLV record books, second overall in stolen bases, third in batting, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage, fifth in home runs, and eighth in runs, triples, and total bases.