Fairfield's Ahna Johnson Named Candidate for Lowe's Senior CLASS Award for 2008 NCAA Women's Soccer Division
MAAC Sports
Kansas City, Mo. ? Fairfield University’s Ahna Johnson has been selected as a candidate for the 2008 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in the women’s soccer division. The award, given annually to senior student athletes across nine NCAA Division I sports, has become one of the most prestigious honors in college athletics and is sponsored by Lowe’s, an Official Corporate Partner of the NCAA.
These individuals qualified based on their dedication and achievement in four areas: Classroom, Character, Community, and Competition. The Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award is distinctive from many other honors in that on-the-field performance is only one factor in determining candidacy ? a major emphasis is placed on off-the-field commitments and personal character.
The 2008 candidates on the women’s side represent 26 different NCAA colleges and universities and 19 athletics conferences across the country. Four schools ? Clemson, Notre Dame, BYU, and USC ? boast two candidates each within this elite group of seniors. The Atlantic Coast Conference leads the pack with four candidates while the Big East Conference is close behind with three.
From the list of 30 candidates, a national media committee will select 10 finalists for the 2008 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in both divisions in October. Those 10 names from each division will then be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote beginning October 9 and concluding November 19. Fan balloting will be coupled with votes from coaches and media to determine the recipient of the award. Winners will be announced during the 2008 NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championships in Cary, North Carolina, scheduled for December 5-7.
“The caliber of individuals in this year’s senior class of soccer players made narrowing the field to 30 for each category very difficult,” said Bob Gfeller, Lowe’s senior vice president of marketing and advertising. “We are ecstatic to see how many talented senior student-athletes are electing to use their skills not only on the playing field, but also in the classroom and in the community.”
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the award was launched during the 2001-02 season in response to the trend of college basketball players leaving college early to turn professional. The award was conceived by sportscaster Dick Enberg, who continues to serve as Honorary Chairman, and has recognized winners in men’s and women’s basketball for seven years. Lowe’s extended the award in 2006 to include baseball, softball, men’s hockey and men’s lacrosse, then in 2007 added men’s and women’s soccer. The award will also include the sport of football this fall, bringing the total awards program to nine NCAA Division I sports.
ABOUT THE AWARD
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award honors the attributes of senior student-athletes in four areas: classroom, community, character and competition. The award program is designed exclusively for college seniors who are utilizing their complete athletic eligibility, remaining committed to their university and pursuing the many rewards that a senior season can bring. For more information, visit http://www.seniorclassaward.com/.
ABOUT LOWE’S
With fiscal year 2007 sales of $48.3 billion, Lowe’s Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE? 50 company that serves approximately 14 million customers a week at more than 1,525 home improvement stores in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe’s is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit http://www.lowes.com/.
ABOUT THE NCAA
The NCAA is a membership-led nonprofit association of colleges and universities committed to supporting academic and athletic opportunities for more than 400,000 student-athletes at more than 1,000 member colleges and universities. Each year, more than 54,000 student-athletes compete in NCAA championships in Divisions I, II and III sports. Visit www.ncaa.org and www.ncaa.com for more details about the Association.