LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Lauren Thibodeau, a senior golfer from the University of Louisville, is named the Class of 2022 Honda Inspiration Award winner as announced by Chris Voelz of The Collegiate Women Sports Awards presented by Honda (CWSA).
Thibodeau was chosen as the winner by the CWSA Board of Directors, and the three finalists were chosen by the CWSA Inspiration Award committee. The other two finalists were Payton Murphy (Western Michigan, Gymnastics) and Emily Sweet (Bentley, Swimming).
“At the forefront of the numerous student-athletes who have faced and overcome adversity this year and inspired us to our core is the Honda Inspiration Award winner, Lauren Thibodeau,” stated Voelz. “Lauren persisted with bravery and optimism showing her teammates, and now the nation, the true grit and resolve it took to endure and overcome her condition in order to return to competition. We are moved by her resilience and welcome her to the Class of 2022.”
An Inspiration Award winner has been selected annually for the past 34 years. The Honda Inspiration Award is given to a deserving female student-athlete in Division I, II or III who has experienced extraordinary physical and/or emotional adversity, injury and/or illness, or experienced extraordinary personal sacrifice during her college enrollment as a student-athlete and yet returns to athletic success.
Each of the 2022 finalists’ stories were highlighted in a Honda Inspiration Award special on CBS Sports Network, Defying the Odds: The 2022 Honda Inspiration Award. This special will be replayed on June 20 at 11:00 pm ET; June 21 at 10:00 am and 6:30 pm ET; June 22 at 11:00 am ET and on June 27 at 8:30 pm ET leading into the Collegiate Women Sports Award presented by Honda live broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
Thibodeau will be honored with the Class of 2022 on the live telecast on CBS Sports Network on June 27th at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT.
“It is an honor to present the 2022 Honda Inspiration Award to Lauren Thibodeau,” said Jean Lenti Ponsetto, Chair of the CWSA Board of Directors. “Lauren’s two-year journey of overcoming the effects of her illness is a story of incredible hard work, toughness and perseverance overcoming every challenge that was put in her path. Remarkably, she drew on her passion and love of golf to fight her way back to greatness and competed in the 2022 NCAA Golf…
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