The Collegiate Womens Sports Award

On June 23, Honda presented the Collegiate Women Sports Awards at ESPN studios in downtown Los Angeles. The ceremony honored female collegiate athletes for their achievements in sports, academics and the community during the 2011-2012 school year. The occasion was also a celebration of equality, as it marked the 40th anniversary of Title IX, the landmark law that has helped expand womens sports.

The proceedings culminated with Brittney Griner, the two-hand-dunking, shot-blocking basketball star from Baylor University, receiving the Honda Cup and being named the 2012 Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year

Along with Griner, top athletes Teresa Noyola and Keilani Ricketts were named Collegiate Women Sports Awards’ Top 3 Finalists. The ceremony also featured Honda Inspiration Award-winner Elena Delle Donne, Division II Athlete of the Year Kari Daugherty and Division III Athlete of the Year Stacey Hagensen. A total of 15 standout athletes were honored.

The Collegiate Women Sports Awards presented by Honda has a 26-year history of encouraging athletes to reach their goals and rewarding them for achieving success. Since 1986, Honda has provided more than $2.5 million in grants to the universities of award winners and nominees—grants designed to benefit womens athletic scholarships.

Previous recipients of the Honda Cup include Ann Meyers Drysdale, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Mia Hamm, Lisa Fernandez, Misty May-Treanor, Courtney Kupets, Maya Moore and Candace Parker.

To learn more about the athletes, the ceremony and the celebration, take a look at these highlights from the 2011-2012 Collegiate Women Sports Awards.