2023 Marlon Johnson Award of Excellence Recipient

2023 winner Teagan Timperley presented by Adam Beamer

The following speech was made by 2022 Marlon Johnson Award winner, Kaija Kunze-Hoeg on June 1, 2023 as she announced the 2023 Marlon Award of Excellence for a Player.

Good evening! I am honored to be a part of the banquet tonight and watch you all celebrate the close of so many successful seasons. Tonight, I am here to honor the memory of one of the many fantastic coaches Northern Lights has had over the years. For 16 years, players at Lights had the privilege to be coached by Marlon Johnson, who sadly passed in 2019. 

Passion, tenacity, and integrity are only the beginning of a long list of the positive characteristics many of us experienced while in his presence. The Marlon Johnson Award of Excellence pays tribute to his character, identifying a member of the graduating class that exemplifies similar qualities to Marlon, in their determination, compassion, leadership, energy, grit, and work ethic. 

It is a privilege to pass this great honor on to an extremely deserving player. Throughout her long tenure at lights, this player has competed at all levels of the club, embodying the idea that hard work and grit pay off. On every team, she has been identified as a leader, both on and off the court, whose determination has been a driving force behind all of her teams. When asked what she has learned while playing volleyball at lights, she expressed the importance of creating a great support system for your team, something she has certainly accomplished during her time at lights. For many years, she has brought never ending positivity, smiles, and joy to both her teammates and coaches. 

I have no doubt that she will continue to be a shining light and positive influence as she continues her college volleyball career next fall. It is with great pleasure that I announce the 2022 Marlon Johnson Award of Excellence to North Dakota commit, Teagan Timperley.