Honoring a Colby person for achievement in the athletic world, this award was first presented in 1988 to Carl Nelson. The award is presented at the annual C Club brunch or dinner, which is held each spring. The selection is made by the Athletic Committee of the Alumni Council and the Colby C Club.
Final selection is made at the fall meeting of the committee.
The award is a clock with an engraved plaque. The C Club honored Stephen Freyer '68 as the Carl Nelson Sports Achievement Award recipient at the 2000 Spring Awards Dinner. The C Club honored Dan Petrosky '00 as the inaugural recipient of the Warren J. Finegan Award at the 2000 Spring Awards Dinner. The C Club honored six women as Carl Nelson Sports Achievement Award recipients at the Colby Night Dinner during Homecoming Weekend 1998.