HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. — Northern Kentucky women's soccer alum Lydia Self has been honored as the Horizon League's recipient of the 2025 Bobby Fong Award, announced by the league on Monday.
The Bobby Fong Award is given to the student-athlete or team that best represents the Horizon League and its core values of integrity, respect and stewardship. The award is named after the late Bobby Fong who served as the President of Butler University from 2001-11.
"Lydia has certainly made a major impact on her campus and the community through her work in her exercise science program, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, SAAC and other service initiatives along with excelling on the soccer pitch," said Julie Roe Lach, the Commissioner of the Horizon League. "She is a tremendous example of our core values of integrity, respect and stewardship and honors President Fong's legacy."
Self, who closed her illustrious career with a second straight Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year Award and All-League selection in 2024, is the fourth student-athlete and fifth NKU recipient of the award since its introduction in 2016. She joins Sami Rutowski (2016, Women's Soccer), the 2018 Northern Kentucky baseball team, Kayla Thompson (XC/TF, 2021), and Lauryn Hicks (softball, 2022) as Norse who have received the honor from the Horizon League.
"Having the ability to represent NKU and the entire Horizon League with this award, is an honor that I am truly grateful for," said Self. "It represents the collective support and effort from teammates, coaches, and mentors along the way, that have shaped me into the person I am today. Reflecting on former athletes and teams that have earned this award and the standards that accompany it, is truly humbling. Although my time at NKU and athletics is nearing its end, I will forever be changed by the memories made, challenges I've overcome, and most importantly the personal relationships that go far beyond a sport. It is a privilege to carry on this legacy."
"Lydia has demonstrated tremendous balance as both a student and an athlete," said NKU Head Women's Soccer Coach Bob Sheehan. "Lydia is honest, trustworthy, and has a strong moral compass. Lydia is grounded, passionate, and reliable, earning the trust of her teammates and coaches. She has excelled in the classroom and continues to serve the community in a wide variety of ways. On the field, Lydia is a force to be reckoned with. She is an embodiment of dedication, skill, and leadership. Her unwavering focus inspires the entire team to always aim higher. Lydia makes everyone around her better."
An Exercise Science major, Self has excelled in the classroom, earning #HLWSOC All-Academic Team honors the past two seasons and was also named to the 2024 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women's Scholar All Region Team.
She is involved with the NKU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and is a leader in Fellowship of Christian Athletes at NKU. Self also served as a team lead for the women's soccer team in the Adopt-A-Class program at Mary A. Goetz Elementary School when the team visited three 2nd grade classrooms (approximately 75 2nd graders) throughout the school year, culminating in a Field Day that the team hosted at NKU at the end of the year.
She was also a member of the Horizon League Student-Athlete Safety and Health Cabinet for two years and has been a Heartland Kids Volunteer at Heartland Church in her hometown of Fishers, Ind. since May 2021.
On the soccer pitch, Self has been a four-year starter and earned #HLWSOC All-League honors three times, including Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2023 and 2024. She is also a two-year captain for the Norse.
As Butler's President, Dr. Fong served on the Horizon League Board of Directors from 2001-2011, including a term as its chair. Dr. Fong's decade as the President of Butler University was marked by a new core curriculum and improved campus-community relationships. Under his watch, Butler sustained an athletic program distinguished by its balance between academic achievement and competitive excellence.
FOLLOW NKU NORSE WOMEN'S SOCCER
Get in the game and follow Northern Kentucky's NCAA Division I women's soccer team through @NKUNorseWSOC on Twitter, @NKUNorseWSOC on Instagram, nkunorsewsoc on Facebook and subscribe to the NKU Norse Youtube channel.
