Jady van Gils, a junior midfielder from East Stroudsburg University, was named the DII Honda Athlete of the Year finalist for Field Hockey as announced today by Executive Director Chris Voelz of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda.

van Gils is now designated one of 11 finalists for the prestigious DII Honda Athlete of the Year. This will be voted on at the end of the academic year by national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of THE CWSA program, now in its 48th year.

“It is such an honor to be one of the 11 nominations for the Division II Honda Award. Honda has a significant impact on women's athletics across all divisions,” said van Gils.

“With my major in Sport Management, I aspire to continue my involvement in sports even after college. Women in sports are often underappreciated, but Honda's support for women's athletics programs is contributing to a positive change, which means a lot to me. I would like to thank my coaches for bringing me from the Netherlands to the United States, allowing me to live my dream here, and for their constant support. I also want to thank President Long, the Athletic Department, Sport Management Department, my teammates, friends, ESU’s fanbase, and, most importantly, my family. We also had incredible support this year by means of mental health & sports psychology from Ian Schneider, ESU’s Hidden Opponent, and Dr. Ohlson that I’m very grateful for. This nomination is not just for me; without everyone’s support throughout the whole year, this wouldn't have been possible.”

van Gils hails from Amersfoort, The Netherlands, and was recently named the DII National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Player of the Year after earning NFHCA DII First Team All-America honors for the second year in a row. This is the first Player of the Year honor in program history.

The midfielder led her team to a 18-3 overall record including a regular season and postseason PSAC title and a return trip to the NCAA DII Championship finals finishing runner-up. She ranked second on the team in points (25) and tied for second in goals (10) and assists (5). Overall through three seasons, van Gils has played in 50 games while registering 50 points on 16 goals and 18 assists.

After being named the PSAC Athlete of the Year and a PSAC First Team All-Conference honoree, she scored the game-winning goal in double overtime of the PSAC Championship game to earn PSAC Tournament MVP honors.

“Jady van Gils embodies the epitome of excellence as a nominee for the D2 Honda Athlete of the Year,” stated head coach Sandy Miller. “Her remarkable qualities as a student, an athlete, and as a person make her not just a candidate, but a true standout deserving of this prestigious award. We are thrilled and inspired by her achievements, and eagerly anticipate celebrating her well-deserved recognition."

All Honda Sports nominees from DII and DIII become a finalist for the prestigious 2024 Honda Athlete of the Year in their respective divisions, presented in a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on Monday, June 24, 2024, at 7 PM ET, from its new home in New York City.

The Honda Award finalists are recognized in 11 DII and DIII NCAA-sanctioned sports; cross country, basketball, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, volleyball, and track & field.

The CWSA, entering its 48th year, has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for their superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service.  Since commencing its partnership in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs. 

About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility

For more than 60 years in the U.S., Honda has been committed to making positive contributions to the communities where its associates live and work. Honda’s mission is to create products and services that improve the lives of people while conducting its business in a sustainable manner and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Accordingly, Honda believes in helping people reach their life’s potential through its focus on the areas of education, the environment, mobility, traffic safety and community. Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.