Gordon College Women's Basketball's Naomi Nicholson was named the Gordon College Collegian of the Year as announced in chapel this past Monday by President Michael Hammond. Nicholson is the first student-athlete to receive this honor in nearly 15 years. 

The Collegian of the Year award goes to the graduating senior who has made the greatest total contribution to Gordon and is in strong academic standing. Selected by faculty and staff, the recipient must have shown evidence of mature Christian character and leadership in curricular and co-curricular activities.

In just three years at the College, Nicholson has garnered countless accolades including Presidential Honors and being named the Conference of New England Scholar Athlete of the Year this past season. She has received the Phi Alpha Chi, Founders and AJ Gordon Missions Fellows Scholarships, awarded the CNE Communityy Service Award and has been appointed to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, led the Gordon Women's Basketball team as their captain for two years, served as a Residence Advisor for two years, been a member of the Chapel Design Committee, welcomed prospective students as an Admissions Tour Guide, participated in the Business Club, Marketing Case Competition, and Rec IM, and has served as a Teaching Assistant for Principles of Management. The well rounded student-athlete also interned in Buenos Aires, Argentina as an AJ Gordon Missions Intern, served as a Development Intern for Pathways for Children in Gloucester, MA, was a participant in the New England Seafarers Mission Day, as well as a Children's Ministry Volunteer at Netcast Church in Danvers This year's recipient is a double major in Marketing and Business Management.

Quotes about Nicholson

• She is well-known for her bright smile, contagious laughter, and generous spirit.
• Her love for Jesus shows through in every part of her life. 
• She has a unique self-reflective humility that enables her to acknowledge areas for personal growth.
• She cares deeply for others and demonstrates that by listening intently and answering thoughtfully in each interaction. 
• She is dedicated to her friends, delighting in their triumphs and grieving with them in their sorrows. She makes everyone feel known and valued and has the unique ability to build a connection with everyone she meets.
• She is genuine and her winsome spirit is easily able to invest in others and build friendships and community.
• She is a model of grace carrying out the work of the Kingdom.
• All of this ultimately flows from her relationship with Jesus, who is her favorite person and favorite topic of conversation.

Her Head Coach Carter Shaw had this to say about his graduating senior: "Naomi's love for Jesus shows through in every part of her life.  She cares deeply for others and demonstrates that by listening intently and answering thoughtfully in each interaction.  She makes everyone feel known and valued and has the unique ability to build a connection with everyone she meets.  Her friendliness is genuine and her winsome spirit is easily able to invest in others and build friendships and community. Naomi is a model of grace carrying out the work of the Kingdom."