Sept. 27, 2017
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Senior forward Kristen Dodson has been selected as a candidate for the 2017 Senior CLASS Award. Dodson is one of 60 players, including 30 women, up for the annual award. She is also one of only three players from the SEC in contention.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as a NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievements for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
"We are so proud of Kristen for being named a candidate for the Senior CLASS Award," head coach Karen Hoppa said. "This honor is a testament to not only the student-athlete she is, but also the character Kristen personifies. She is a great representative of the Auburn soccer program."
On the pitch, Dodson has been one of the most lethal forwards to ever don the Orange and Blue as she ranks in the top 10 in program history in goals, assists, points and game-winning goals. Through 10 matches in 2017, Dodson's 27 assists and nine game-winning goals rank fourth all-time while her 26 goals and 79 points ranks fifth and sixth, respectively. A year ago, she broke a single-season program record that had stood for 17 years as she totaled 38 points en route to being named First Team All-SEC and NSCAA All-South Region.
The Aurora, Ill., native has also excelled in the classroom during her three-plus years as a member of the Auburn soccer team. She has found her name on the Dean's List while progressing towards a degree in exercise science and plans to apply to PA school and eventually become a physician assistant.
A fixture in the community, Dodson has completed a plethora of hours at BraveHeart Center for Place and Purpose where she has supported and enhanced social skills, cognitive skills, self-esteem, creativity and work skills for young adults with developmental disabilities. She has also spent time with Habitat for Humanity and has been a key member of Serve Day, and annual day of service put on by Church of the Highlands.
Dodson's leadership, both on and off the field, has brought the team chemistry to a high level and has helped the Tigers to program records in each of the last two seasons. With Dodson playing a major role, Auburn has reached the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in back-to-back seasons for the first time ever, including the program's first NCAA Tournament Quarterfinal appearance in 2016.
Each of the two candidate classes will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one male candidate and one female candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.
The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2017 NCAA Men's and Women's College Cup championships in December.