College of Wooster senior volleyball standout Kelley Johnson added another significant honor to her résumé, as she was one of 29 female fall sport student-athletes nationwide to be awarded an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, the NCAA announced.
"(When) I saw I was a recipient, it was shocking in some ways. Just so honored to be named one of the recipients when so many are nominated for (it)," said Johnson, who was a first-team Academic All-American® this past fall. "I want to thank Coach (Sarah) Davis for nominating me, as well as my Independent Study advisor, Dr. (Michelle) Johnson, faculty-athletic representative Shelley Judge, and assistant athletic director Brenda Meese. They all had to submit components of that. I wouldn't have been able to do it without the help of others."
Johnson is the first Wooster student-athlete to receive the prestigious scholarship since the 2006-07 academic year. After graduation in May, she plans to get work experience in some type of athletic setting, either coaching or administrative, for a year and then use the $7,500 award for graduate school the following year.
On the volleyball court, Johnson was one of the top liberos in NCAA Div. III throughout her career, ranking among the top-40 in the country in digs each of her four seasons, including eighth this past fall with 6.12 per set. She totaled 2,575 digs for her career, the second-most in program history, while earning all-North Coast Athletic Conference honors three times and helping the Fighting Scots to a 78-48 record.
Majoring in communication studies with a minor in physical education, Johnson carries a 3.96 grade-point average. In addition to her academic and athletic success, she is a resident director after previously being named resident assistant of the year, president of Lambda Pi Eta (communications honor society), and vice president of the communications club, and she was a key member of the Scots' softball team for two seasons, garnering all-NCAC recognition in that sport as well.
NCAA postgraduate scholarships are given out annually to 174 student-athletes, who are selected by a committee that screens candidates whom maintain at least a 3.2 GPA, have performed and behaved with distinction on and off the playing field, and intend to continue their academic work beyond the baccalaureate degree.
