Worcester, MA --- WPI field hockey student-athlete Kelly Johnson (Buxton, ME) has earned second team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America (Co-SIDA).  She becomes the third WPI Academic All-American this season, equaling the most in school history.      

The junior received the award in the college division at-large category, which features NCAA Division II and III, NAIA and junior college student-athletes from bowling, crew, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming and diving, tennis and water polo.

Johnson sports a perfect 4.00 GPA while majoring in mechanical engineering and pursuing a minor in entrepreneurship.  She made a successful return to the field hockey field this past fall after missing nearly all of the 2007 season with an injury.  Johnson, who was second on the team with four assists, started all 19 games at center midfield and helped the Engineers reach the NEWMAC Tournament semifinals for the first time since 1999.  She also excelled in the spring, starting for the WPI softball team, who qualified for the NEWMAC Tournament after a two-year absence.

Johnson earned the 2009 Poly Club award, presented to the top female athlete in the junior class who has outstanding academic records along with campus involvement of a non-athletic nature.   She is president of SocCom and a member of Alpha Phi Omega, a community service fraternity.  Johnson completed her IQP project in Thailand in C term of 2009 and studied "Religion's Impact on the American Revolution" for her sufficiency.  A member of WPI's Dean's List, she is also involved with the Women's Industry Network and a volunteer in Big Brother/Big Sister.

She is one of three NEWMAC athletes to be earned Academic All-America honors in the at-large category.  MIT gymnast Julia Zimmerman earned first team accolades while Wheaton lacrosse standout Caitlin Grant joined Johnson on the second team.  

Johnson joins Ben Gilde and Jen Richards as WPI's Academic All-Americans this academic year.  Gilde earned first team men's soccer honors in the fall, while Richards garnered second team accolades this spring in softball. 

The trio joins Jarrod Alston (men's soccer), Mike Pockoski (men's track and field) and Susan Shorrock (women's cross country) from 1998-99 as the only group of three student-athletes to earn the honor in an academic year.  This year's class could set a new mark if Kevin Jillson (East Sandwich, MA) and/or Jarrett Arredondo (Somerville, MA) receive the honor for cross country/track and field. 

Johnson's award marks the 28th time an Engineer has been selected an Academic All-American and she is the 21st different WPI student-athlete to earn the honor.