IRVING, Texas (November 14, 2024) – The National Football Foundation (NFF) and the College Hall of Fame unveiled its 16 Faculty Athletics Representatives (FARs) who will be honored as part of the 2024 NFF Faculty Salutes where Howard University's Deborah Johnson was among the 16 honorees. The announcement came Thursday.
 
As part of the initiative, each school with a member of the 2024 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class receives recognition for their faculty athletics representative and a $5,000 donation per school (a total of $80,000 this year) from Fidelity is made to support the academic support services for student-athletes at the schools. Including this year's honorees, the salutes have recognized 198 FARs since the program's inception and Fidelity has made a total of $990,000 in donations.
 
"Recognizing the Faculty Athletics Representatives highlights the key role they play in strengthening the connection between academics and athletics," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "Their dedication to well-being of our student-athletes is critical to ensuring high levels of achievement both on and off the field, and the success stories of the NFF National Scholar-Athletes provide a natural vehicle for emphasizing the important contributions of the faculty athletics representatives across the country."
 
Johnson completed both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Physical Education at Howard and earned 21-plus hours in postgraduate studies in Special Education and Educational Psychology.
 
Since 1971, she has maintained her enthusiasm for teaching at her alma mater, combining administrative responsibilities, coaching, advising, fundraising and curriculum development and sports marketing.
 
Johnson is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Federal City Alumnae Chapter. In 2007, she received her Certificate of Service from Deltas for Howard. She has received several community service awards. In 2016, the South Bronx native was inducted into the Howard University Athletic Hall of Fame.
 
The NFF will recognize 16 FARs from the 16 schools with a member of the 2024 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class.
 
Last month (Oct. 23), senior linebacker Terrance Hollon (Cleveland) was among the finalist for the prestigious 2024 William V. Campell Trophy. The award recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the nation for this academic success, football performance and leadership.
 
Fidelity Investments, which also serves as the presenting sponsor of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, has taken on a leadership role with the Faculty Salutes as a natural extension of its ongoing support of the scholar-athlete ideal and commitment to higher education nationwide. Launched in 2011 as a partnership between Fidelity and the NFF, the Salutes expand the reach of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards program, which provides $18,000 postgraduate scholarships to college football's top student-athletes.
 
"We are pleased to partner with the NFF to recognize these faculty members who go above and beyond to support their student-athletes academically so that they can give it their all on the field," said Sangeeta Moorjani, head of Tax-Exempt Market and Lifetime Engagement at Fidelity Investments. "We have always felt honored to be part of this program, as it takes a village to cultivate a successful student-athlete, and these FARs are guiding the way."
 
On Dec. 10, Johnson, Hollon and the other finalists travel to the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for the 66^th NFF Annual Awards Dinner, presented by Las Vegas, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. Live during the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 35th Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
 
Friday (Nov. 15), Howard goes to Durham, N.C., to face rival North Carolina Central. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m., on ESPNU.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards website at www.footballfoundation.org., the Fidelity Investments website at www.fidelity.com, the 1A FAR website at www.oneafar.org, and/or the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame website at www.footballfoundation.org.