Bridget Kennedy has been named the 2024 recipient of the Dr. Neal J. Johnson St. Bonaventure Women's Soccer Scholarship. Kennedy received the award prior to last Sunday's home game against Fordham.
 
Kennedy has accumulated a 3.55 GPA over her first three years at St. Bonaventure while majoring in sports studies.
 
During her time at St. Bonaventure, Kennedy has been on the Dean's List every semester and the Atlantic 10 Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll each year of her career.
 
In her junior season, the Cleveland Heights, Ohio native was named a team captain and served as captain in her senior year as well.
 
Kennedy has volunteered with the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) animal shelter and with Special Olympics.
 
"I am incredibly proud of Bridget and the person she continues to become," said head coach Donny George. "As the recipient of the Dr. Neal Johnson Award, she exemplifies every quality we value—leadership, dedication, and integrity. We are excited to see the positive impact Bridget will make beyond St. Bonaventure, knowing she will always be cherished here and has a home with us forever."
 
During the summer prior to her senior season, Kennedy played for a ministry-based soccer program, the Charlotte Eagles. Kennedy traveled to Medellin, Columbia with the team for a mission trip where they hosted soccer clinics, participated in service projects, and worked with local churches.
 
The namesake of the scholarship, the late Dr. Neal Johnson, graduated from St. Bonaventure in 1973. He received an honorary doctorate in 2014 for his more than 40 years of service to the Special Olympics. 
 
The scholarship will be awarded to a senior class member of the women's soccer program who has demonstrated over their years of participation, dedication to their teammates, the team, the program and the university. Additionally, through their example and accomplishments, throughout the university community, the recipient has demonstrated their commitment to the ideals of the university and the Franciscan tradition. Academically, the recipient will have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Ideally, the recipient should be pursuing a degree in Physical Education, Sports Studies or Health Sciences. This, however, should not exclude similarly qualified team members pursuing different degrees or areas of concentration.
 
"The idea behind this scholarship was to motivate or interest underclassmen from the moment they step on campus to become involved and meet the different criteria listed. This scholarship serves as an incentive for student-athletes to get involved," Johnson said before his passing in December 2022. "It is imperative that the student-athlete selected gets the recognition they deserve, but that this doesn't happen until the completion of their senior season. This ensures that teammates stay motivated whether they have one, two, or three years left, to continue to stay involved every season to potentially earn recognition when their collegiate career is complete. When developing this, I almost wanted it to model the Ideal Bonaventure Woman Award, but have this scholarship recognize the 'Ideal Bonaventure Women's Soccer Player.'"
 
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