Sam Charlton has been awarded the Under-21 Player of the Year at the Hockey New Zealand Annual Awards Dinner held in Auckland on Friday night.
The hard working defender, who is born and bred in Tauranga and studying a Bachelor of Science majoring in psychology and geography at Massey University, wowed crowds at the London Olympics.
"While others doubted themselves, Sam was working harder," said head coach Mark Hager in the build-up to last year's Olympics.
"She was willing to learn to become the best, and she delivered at the Olympics."
Co-captain Kayla Sharland and striker Nick Wilson took out the top honours at the awards dinner.