Westmont Magazine She Excels on the Court and the Canvas

scholarships and the westmont annual fund help senior annie johnson develop as a scholar, athlete, artist and believer

To support the Westmont Annual Fund and students like Annie Johnson, you may charge your gift by phone, (805) 565-7053, or give online at ww.westmont.edu/giving.

To support the Westmont Annual Fund and students like Annie Johnson, you may charge your gift by phone, (805) 565-7053, or give online at ww.westmont.edu/giving.

Annie teaches art to students at church

Annie teaches art to students at church

On the basketball court, Annie Johnson ’09 plays with intensity and drive. Skilled and competitive, she’s been a starter the last two years. She puts equal effort into her studies, earning a 3.83 GPA as a studio art major and kinesiology minor. Three years in a row, she’s won the Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete award for women’s basketball, and last season she secured NAIA Scholar Athlete and GSAC Scholar Athlete honors.

The accomplished athlete is also a gifted artist who works in a variety of media. She loves children and teaches art to them after school and during the summer. She ran a basketball clinic for Cold Spring School and leads weekly Sunday school classes at Summerland Presbyterian Church.

When Annie looked at colleges, she sought a Christian school where she could develop all her talents. She found what she wanted at Westmont. “But I didn’t know how I could afford it,” she says. “I have three sisters, and my parents suggested that I look at other schools. But God provided, and I feel really blessed to be here.” Annie received scholarships for basketball, art and academics as well as financial aid grants. Gifts to the Westmont Annual Fund enabled her to attend the college of her choice.

“I’ve grown so much at Westmont,” Annie says. “Through the team, I’ve learned to love and work with people who are different. Westmont has helped me realize my love and passion for learning; I didn’t know that about myself. Being a student-athlete has taught me to work hard.”

Annie co-leads the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which she helped establish on campus. “I thought it might be too easy to be a Christian at Westmont,” she says. “But I’ve been challenged spiritually in my classes and in difficult life situations.”

Annie wants to get a master’s degree and may teach art and coach at the high school or college level. Becoming a certified strength and conditioning specialist also interests her. Whatever she does, she feels Westmont has prepared her well.