Kelly Johnson, a recent WPI graduate and three-time Academic All-American, is one of two student-athletes chosen to represent the New England Women and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) in national balloting for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award. The award honors senior student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service, and leadership.
Johnson a Buxton, Maine, native who graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, is the first WPI student to appear on the national ballot in the award’s 20-year history. “I am honored to be a NEWMAC Woman of the Year nominee and especially to be selected from a conference with such gifted student-athletes," said Johnson, who maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average while at WPI. “I am also very thankful to WPI for all the opportunities and support everyone at the university has given me."
- Read the Portland (Maine) Press Herald article about Johnson’s recent achievements.
Johnson, who served as WPI’s field hockey and softball captain her senior year, was named to the ESPN: The Magazine and Co-SIDA All-Academic District 1 First Team and All-America Second Team At-Large for field hockey and softball. In addition, she has received many engineering awards and was a member of the ZAG/NFHCA Division III National Academic Squad for all four years at WPI. During her senior year, Johnson received NEWMAC First Team All-Conference honors for field hockey and softball. She led the field hockey team in goals (11) and defensive saves (10), a rare feat. Johnson also led the softball team with a .333 batting average, four home runs, 25 runs scored, and 17 RBI. As a first-year student in 2006, Johnson was named NEWMAC Rookie of the Year for field hockey.
She supplemented her education and athletic pursuits through extensive community and campus involvement, playing an instrumental role on WPI’s student Social Committee, serving as president in 2009. Johnson also volunteered for Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the American Cancer Society, and helped organize the Home Run Derby for Dana Farber.
"This is a terrific acknowledgement by NEWMAC of Kelly Johnson’s outstanding accomplishments," said Dana L. Harmon, WPI’s director of physical education, recreation, and athletics. “We have been very proud that Kelly has always represented the best of the WPI student-athlete; now we feel even more fortunate that she will represent the NEWMAC student-athletes on the national level for consideration as the NCAA Woman of the Year."
The 2010 NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced Oct. 17 in Indianapolis. More information on the award and a list of previous winners can be found here.
