WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Monmouth University women's soccer student-athlete Jess Johnson has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.

Johnson becomes the first Monmouth student-athlete to be awarded an NCAA Postgraduate scholarship.

"I could not have been awarded this scholarship without the support and assistance from all my endorsers and family," Johnson said. "The application process was arduous, but worth it in the end. I would not be where I am today without the unwavering support of so many people around me and I am forever grateful of all the opportunities I've been given. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this process and continues to be there and push me to be the best I can be."

Johnson played a major role on Monmouth's NCAA-leading defensive unit as a senior in 2019. The Hawks led the nation in goals-against average, save percentage and shutout percentage and held their opponents to an NCAA-low four goals against. Monmouth made its fourth-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance as Johnson garnered Scholar-All East Region, All-Atlantic Region Second Team and All-MAAC First Team honors.

"Jess is one of our exemplary student-athletes and I am thrilled that she was recognized by the NCAA," Monmouth Faculty Athletic Representative Dr. Jennifer McGovern stated. "This is a very prestigious award and Jess was competing against other outstanding student-athletes from multiple sports in schools across the country. The award is especially meaningful because winners needed to be exceptional with respect to academics, athletics, and service.  Jess embodies all of these things and truly shows what it means to be a student-athlete on and off the field."

A two-time team captain, Johnson has excelled off the soccer field as well. She owns a 3.90 grade-point average as a Social Work major and has been recognized as a Dean's List student and MAAC All-Academic Team selection on multiple occasions. Johnson co-founded Monmouth's FLIGHT Academy, which pairs incoming student-athletes with upper class students in an effort to help first-year athletes navigate their new environment. As the Monmouth Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President, Johnson has led her peers in enhancing their community service efforts, as well as adding additional mental health programming on campus.

"A postgraduate award from the NCAA is reserved for the truly elite of student-athletes across the nation," head coach Dr. Krissy Turner added. "Jess has had an outstanding career at Monmouth on and off the field. She has impacted our program as a leader, student, athlete, and ambassador in the community. This is a tremendous accomplishment for Jess, our program, and Monmouth University."

Each year the NCAA awards up to 126 postgraduate scholarships annually. The scholarships are awarded to student-athletes who excel academically and athletically and who are at least in their final year of intercollegiate athletics competition. The one-time non-renewable scholarships of $10,000 are awarded three times a year corresponding to each sport season (fall, winter and spring).  Each sports season there are 21 scholarships available for men and 21 scholarships available for women for use in an accredited graduate program.