SAN JOSE, Calif - Jennah Loggins of the San José State women's soccer team was named a September recipient of the CalHOPE Courage Award. She will receive the honor during an on-field ceremony at the San Jose Earthquakes game on Saturday night at PayPal Park.
The award, presented monthly since February 2022, honors student-athletes at California colleges and universities who have overcome the stress, anxiety, and mental trauma associated with personal hardships and adversity. It is presented by the College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA), in association with The Associated Press; CalHOPE, DHCS’ crisis counseling and support resource; and the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being.
A senior psychology major with a minor in kinesiology and forward for the Spartans, Loggins has overcome tremendous challenges in her young life. Just a year after Loggins was born, she lost her mother to an asthma attack. Soon after her mother’s death, her father left, forcing Loggins and her three siblings to live with relatives. During her childhood, resources were scarce: there were times when Loggins and her siblings went without food or running water.
Being one of the few minorities at South Hills High School in Covina, she often dealt with racism and had a difficult time making friends. Sports proved an invaluable outlet for Loggins, providing an opportunity for her to distinguish herself. Over the course of four years, Loggins scored an impressive 12 goals on behalf of the South Hills High School soccer team and broke the school record for both the 100m and 4x100m relays on the track team.
Just weeks before leaving for San José State, Loggins tore her ACL in a pick-up soccer game that would require surgery and force her to redshirt her freshman year. Then, just four games into her sophomore season, she tore the ACL in her other leg and missed the remainder of that season. After an infection from her first surgery forced her to undergo a third surgery, her junior season was limited to just 10 games. In recognition of her resilience, Loggins was presented last year with the Spartan’s Sammy Award for “Most Inspirational Player”.
This year, fully healthy for the first time, Loggins has appeared in seven games, helping the Spartans start the season with a 2-3-3 record.
“No matter how hard it's gotten, I’ve always looked to God and the people in my life who have always been there to support me in some of my darkest times,” explained Loggins. “I’ve always kept a positive mindset and never given up, no matter the challenges or adversity in front of me.”
Stories about all CalHOPE Courage Award honorees are available at CalHOPECourageAward.com and via social media at @CalHOPE_Courage.
Sports information directors at all colleges and universities in California are encouraged to nominate deserving intercollegiate student-athletes through March 2024 at CalHOPECourageAward.org. The honorees will be selected by a panel of writers, editors, The Associated Press, and the College Sports Communicators.
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