Senior Nordic skier Sidney Barbier (University of Denver), senior softball player Katie Cosmos (Elms College), and senior track & field athlete Marlee Morgan (University of Virginia) have been named finalists for the prestigious 2025 Honda Inspiration Award, as announced by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of The Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA).
The Honda Inspiration Award recognizes a collegiate female student-athlete who has overcome significant physical or emotional adversity to return to athletic success. One of the most compelling honors in collegiate athletics, it has been awarded annually for the past 37 years across NCAA Divisions I, II, and III.
“Each of these finalists embodies the heart of what it means to be an athlete by facing adversity head-on, rising through the struggle, and returning not just to compete, but to inspire,” said Voelz. “Their journeys are powerful reminders of courage, hope, and the human spirit at its strongest.”
The winner will be selected by the CWSA Board of Directors and announced in June. Her story will be celebrated alongside the full Class of 2025 during a live telecast of The Collegiate Women Sports Awards presented by Honda on CBS Sports Network, airing Monday, June 30, 2025, at 7:00 PM ET from New York City.
In advance of that, CBS Sports Network will debut a special feature, “Defying the Odds: The 2025 Honda Inspiration Award,” on Sunday, June 23 at 6:00 PM ET, highlighting the journeys of all three finalists. The program will re-air throughout June, including Monday, June 30, at 6:30 PM ET, leading into the awards broadcast.
“Each of the 23 nominees in 2025 shared a truly inspiring story, making this year’s selection process incredibly difficult,” said Judy Sweet, CWSA Board Member and Chair of the Honda Inspiration Award Committee. “The three finalists stood out for their exceptional strength, resilience, and determination in overcoming significant health challenges, life’s uncertainties, and ongoing adversity.”
The 2025 Honda Inspiration Award finalists showcase remarkable resilience and determination in the face of adversity. Here are their inspiring stories:
Sidney Barbier, Senior, University of Denver, Nordic Skiing
Barbier has demonstrated remarkable resilience in overcoming years of debilitating health challenges to finally compete at the collegiate level. After suffering from severe abdominal pain beginning in high school, Barbier endured a six-year medical journey filled with misdiagnoses, failed treatments, and multiple surgeries, including gallbladder removal, without relief. In 2024, she was finally diagnosed with nutcracker syndrome, a rare vascular condition that compresses the renal vein, and underwent a first-of-its-kind surgery in the U.S. at the Cleveland Clinic. This past season, Barbier returned to the Nordic ski tracks nearly pain-free for the first time in her collegiate career, all while also managing a torn hip labrum, embodying perseverance and strength.
Katie Cosmos, Senior, Elms College, Softball
Cosmos has faced immense adversity during her collegiate softball career, including two season-ending ACL tears; one as a freshman and another during her final home game in 2024. Off the field, she endured the loss of her mother, whom she cared for through serious illness, as well as the passing of her remaining grandparents. Despite these challenges, Cosmos remained committed to both her nursing degree and softball, earning GNAC First Team All-Conference honors in 2024 while batting an impressive .361 this season.
Marlee Morgan, Senior, University of Virginia, Track & Field
Morgan was one of the survivors of a devastating campus shooting in which she was shot in the leg and three fellow student-athletes lost their lives. Despite the physical and emotional toll, she remained focused on healing and returning to the sport she loves. Having started her collegiate career as a student manager, Morgan fought her way onto the UVA track & field roster and, this season, returned to competition with renewed purpose, achieving personal bests and proving her strength on and off the track.
Patty Viverito, Chair of the CWSA Board of Directors stated, “The Honda Inspiration Award is one of our most cherished recognitions. We’re grateful to CBS Sports Network for featuring the finalists on ‘Defying the Odds’ and sharing their incredible stories with audiences nationwide. Their journeys never cease to inspire us.”
The CWSA, entering its 49th year, has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for their superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. Since commencing its partnership 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.
About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility and the Honda USA Foundation
For more than 65 years in the U.S., Honda has been committed to making positive contributions to the communities where its associates live and work. The company’s mission is to create products and services that help people fulfill their life’s potential, while conducting business in a sustainable manner and fostering an inclusive workplace. Advancing its corporate social responsibility, Honda and the Honda USA Foundation support this direction through giving focused on education, the environment, mobility, traffic safety, and community. Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.