Arielle Johnston, a senior from Salisbury University, was named the DIII Honda Athlete of the Year finalist for Field Hockey as announced today by Executive Director Chris Voelz of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda.

Johnston is now designated one of 11 finalists for the prestigious DIII Honda Athlete of the Year. This will be voted on at the end of the academic year by national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of THE CWSA program, now in its 44th year.

“When Coach (Chamberlin) told me I was nominated as a finalist for the Division III Athlete of the Year, I was shocked,“ said Johnston. “It is pretty overwhelming to think that I could be considered for such an incredible honor. I think the best part of being nominated for this award is what it will mean to my family, friends, teammates and my community. I have had a lot of support from them on and off the field. My community has always wanted me to succeed and do great things in my life. It brings me great joy to see their excitement in moments like this."

“I am also extremely grateful that this award also benefits Salisbury University field hockey and that it will help support the next generation. I just want to say thank you to Honda and those who nominated and selected me, it means the world to share this honor with everyone who has loved and supported me on this journey.”

Johnston, a senior midfielder hailing from Crisfield, Md., was most recently named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-American first-team. Prior to this announcement she was named All-South Region, collecting the second All-Region honor of her career. She tied as the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) leader in assists (10), was second in points (34) and tied for third in the league with 13 goals. Named the CAC Player of the Year, she also earned All-CAC first-team honors for the second year in a row. 

Off the field, she carries a perfect 4.0 grade-point average as a community health major with a minor in psychology and Spanish. For her efforts, she was recognized by the NCAA as the Elite 90 winner at the Division III National Championship banquet which is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 90 championships.

“I am really excited that Arielle was selected as a finalist for the Division III Honda Athlete of the Year,” stated head coach Dawn Chamberlin. “She is a coach’s dream! Arielle is an outstanding student, a great athlete, a leader, and an even better teammate. She is extraordinarily giving of her time and energy when it comes to volunteering in the service sector. How she manages to balance all this with such a positive attitude and enthusiasm is remarkable. Arielle is well respected and liked by everyone! I cannot think of a more deserving person for this honor.”

All Honda Sports nominees from DIII and DII become a finalist for the prestigious 2020 Honda Athlete of the Year in their respective divisions, presented in a live telecast on CBS Sports on June 22, 2020, in downtown Los Angeles. The Honda Sports nominees are recognized in 11 DIII and DII NCAA-sanctioned sports; cross country, basketball, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, volleyball, and track & field.

THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for 44 years, recognizing superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service.   Since commencing its sponsorship in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs at the institutions.

About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility

Honda also is committed to making positive contributions to the communities where it does business, conducting socially responsible business practices and promoting diversity in its workforce. From Honda's involvement in STEM education and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to its support of pediatric brain tumor research and volunteer efforts by Honda associates, including environmental clean-up activities, Honda believes in giving back to the communities where its associates live and work. Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.