Photo by: Brock Borgeson
White Attends Honda Inspiration Award Ceremony in LA Monday
6/25/2023 11:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Award Presentation Airs at 8:30 p.m. EST on CBS Sports Network
LOS ANGELES - A sweet homecoming for UNF volleyball's Mahalia White culminates tomorrow night in Los Angeles as the outside hitter is awarded with the Honda Cup Inspiration Award.
Joining White at the event are the Honda Cup winners for gymnastics, tennis, golf, swimming and diving, volleyball, field hockey, soccer, cross country, track and field, lacrosse, softball and basketball. The Division II and III Honda Athletes of the Year will also be in attendance for the event hosted at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion.
White, an LA native, became UNF volleyball's first-ever Honda Cup award winner after being tabbed to the "Inspiration" honor June 20. White was first tabbed a finalist for the award during the spring before receiving the honor earlier this month.
CBS Sports Network put together a feature recognizing White's journey through college volleyball that featured significant success on the court and a remarkable and inspiring journey through stage IV Hodgkin's Lymphoma and a torn ACL.
Re-airs of the segment will be available at the times listed below.
More From the Collegiate Women Sports Award (presented by Honda)
White 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 Lynnzee Brown (Denver, Gymnastics) and Grace Taylor (Harvard, Lacrosse).
"One of the most important things we do is tell the stories of how and why women compete," stated CWSA executive director Chris Voelz said. "The Inspiration Award nominees are not only competing in their sports but for their lives. This year's nominees faced adversity in many ways; held abundant positive attitudes and had amazing comeback stories. Such is the story of Mahalia White who was selected as the 2023 Honda Inspiration Award winner. You can't help but be inspired by what she went through and where she landed."
An Inspiration Award winner has been selected annually for the past 35 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.
White's journey began after her freshman season during which she was experiencing intense pain in her ribs, spine and pelvis which she attributed to strenuous activity. In the postseason, she was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Her cancer had spread from lymph nodes to her bones, and she underwent almost four months of chemotherapy until she was officially in remission.
While her cancer was in remission, the cancer lesions and chemotherapy left her bones fragile making it painful to walk and it took the rest of the year to fully recover.
She returned to the court in 2019 and had a successful season but while preparing for the 2021 season, she landed wrong and tore her ACL making her miss another full year of play. These challenges had an impact on her both physically and mentally but she returned to competition after each setback and was named to the All-ASUN Second Team after the 2022 season.
"Mahalia's amazing journey as a volleyball standout at the University of North Florida pales in comparison to her fierce grit and determination in overcoming the impact of her illness and all the adversity it presented," said Jean Lenti Ponsetto, Chair of the CWSA Board of Directors. "Her strength and courage are enduring examples for all to admire and celebrate!"
The CWSA, celebrating its 46th anniversary 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.
Re-Air Schedule
Defying the Odds: The 2023 Honda Inspiration Award
6/26Â Â Â 8:00 PM
6/27Â Â Â 10:00 AM
6/27Â Â Â 4:30 PM
6/30Â Â Â 6:30 PM
7/1Â Â Â Â 7:30 AM
2023 Collegiate Women Sports Awards
6/26Â Â Â 8:30 PM
6/26Â Â Â 12:00 AM
6/27Â Â Â 10:30 AM
6/27Â Â Â 6:30 PM
6/28Â Â Â 4:30 PM
7/1Â Â Â Â 8:00 AM
Â
Joining White at the event are the Honda Cup winners for gymnastics, tennis, golf, swimming and diving, volleyball, field hockey, soccer, cross country, track and field, lacrosse, softball and basketball. The Division II and III Honda Athletes of the Year will also be in attendance for the event hosted at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion.
White, an LA native, became UNF volleyball's first-ever Honda Cup award winner after being tabbed to the "Inspiration" honor June 20. White was first tabbed a finalist for the award during the spring before receiving the honor earlier this month.
CBS Sports Network put together a feature recognizing White's journey through college volleyball that featured significant success on the court and a remarkable and inspiring journey through stage IV Hodgkin's Lymphoma and a torn ACL.
Re-airs of the segment will be available at the times listed below.
More From the Collegiate Women Sports Award (presented by Honda)
White 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 Lynnzee Brown (Denver, Gymnastics) and Grace Taylor (Harvard, Lacrosse).
"One of the most important things we do is tell the stories of how and why women compete," stated CWSA executive director Chris Voelz said. "The Inspiration Award nominees are not only competing in their sports but for their lives. This year's nominees faced adversity in many ways; held abundant positive attitudes and had amazing comeback stories. Such is the story of Mahalia White who was selected as the 2023 Honda Inspiration Award winner. You can't help but be inspired by what she went through and where she landed."
An Inspiration Award winner has been selected annually for the past 35 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.
White's journey began after her freshman season during which she was experiencing intense pain in her ribs, spine and pelvis which she attributed to strenuous activity. In the postseason, she was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Her cancer had spread from lymph nodes to her bones, and she underwent almost four months of chemotherapy until she was officially in remission.
While her cancer was in remission, the cancer lesions and chemotherapy left her bones fragile making it painful to walk and it took the rest of the year to fully recover.
She returned to the court in 2019 and had a successful season but while preparing for the 2021 season, she landed wrong and tore her ACL making her miss another full year of play. These challenges had an impact on her both physically and mentally but she returned to competition after each setback and was named to the All-ASUN Second Team after the 2022 season.
"Mahalia's amazing journey as a volleyball standout at the University of North Florida pales in comparison to her fierce grit and determination in overcoming the impact of her illness and all the adversity it presented," said Jean Lenti Ponsetto, Chair of the CWSA Board of Directors. "Her strength and courage are enduring examples for all to admire and celebrate!"
The CWSA, celebrating its 46th anniversary 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.
Re-Air Schedule
Defying the Odds: The 2023 Honda Inspiration Award
6/26Â Â Â 8:00 PM
6/27Â Â Â 10:00 AM
6/27Â Â Â 4:30 PM
6/30Â Â Â 6:30 PM
7/1Â Â Â Â 7:30 AM
2023 Collegiate Women Sports Awards
6/26Â Â Â 8:30 PM
6/26Â Â Â 12:00 AM
6/27Â Â Â 10:30 AM
6/27Â Â Â 6:30 PM
6/28Â Â Â 4:30 PM
7/1Â Â Â Â 8:00 AM
Â
Players Mentioned
OH
/ VolleyballTuesday, February 10
Thursday, July 06
Thursday, July 06
Thursday, July 06
