The NCAA News - News and Features

June 8, 1998

Sweet selected for Honda Award of Merit

Judith M. Sweet, director of athletics at the University of California, San Diego, and past president of the NCAA, has been named the winner of the Honda Award of Merit.

The award is presented annually to an individual who has made a significant and enduring contribution to women's college sports.

Sweet became one of the first women in the nation selected to direct a combined men's and women's intercollegiate athletics program when she accepted the athletics director position at UC San Diego in 1975.

She served as secretary-treasurer of the NCAA from 1989-91 and was elected as president of the Association at the 1991 NCAA Convention.

Sweet was a member of the NCAA's Gender-Equity Task Force, which was instrumental in providing guidance to member institutions regarding the enhancement of athletics opportunities for women and compliance with Title IX.

Sweet also has chaired or has been a member of several other NCAA committees, including the Special Committee to Review Recommendations Regarding the Distribution of Revenues, the Budget Subcommittee and the Subcommittee to Review Minority Opportunities in Intercollegiate Athletics.

A native of Milwaukee and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Sweet will be honored at the 22nd annual Collegiate Woman of the Year banquet June 14 in Marco Island, Florida.

The awards program is sponsored by American Honda Motor Co., Inc.