Carolyn Thornton, Rhode Island – 2012

After a 3-sport athletic career at Johnston (RI) High School and 4 years as a starter for the Brown University softball team, Carolyn achieved pioneer status as the first fulltime female sports writer at the Providence Journal. In 1995 she became the first female to be elected president of Words Unlimited – RI’s statewide sports media organization – where she served as president and vice president.

During her 23 years as a sportswriter, Carolyn has covered all of the major New England professional sports teams. She has given special attention to the achievements of female athletes, coaches, and teams at every level –youth, high school, college, professional, and Olympic.

Carolyn’s awards include: the1995 Media Award from the RI Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women, the 1998 RI Sportswriter of the Year, the Brown Invitational 2005 Bob Leddy Service Award for outstanding contributions to high school cross country, the 2007 Media Award from the RI Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, and the 2009 Alice Sullivan Award from the RI Board of Girls Basketball Officials. She earned 3rd place honors in the N.E. AP News Executives Association Competition for “Extending Themselves” – a 4-part series on the world of travel softball for girls.