Danielle Johnson Earns Elite 90 Award
5/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- University of Michigan junior sport management major Danielle Johnson was announced as the recipient of the NCAA Elite 90 Academic Recognition Award for women's water polo on Thursday night (May 12) at the NCAA Championship Banquet.
"I was shocked because there were so many amazing student-athletes in the room," said Johnson. "Knowing all the hard work that goes into being a student athlete, it is really exciting to be a part of the leaders and best."
The ELITE 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 90 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 90 championships.
Johnson is just the second Michigan student-athlete to receive the award since its inception in 2009-10. Men's gymnast Benjamin Baldus-Strauss, a chemistry major, was honored his junior year in 2010.
A native of Walnut Creek, California, Johnson is a starter on the Michigan team that will face Arizona State in the first round on Friday (May 13) at 5:15 p.m. PDT. She has recorded 33 goals and 15 assists on the season to go along with 32 steals.
