Christine Blasey Ford has been nominated with an award for going public with her allegation of sexual assault against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, CNN reports.

A professor at Ford's alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, nominated Ford for the Distinguished Alumna Award, crediting her for "speaking truth to power."

Ford graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in psychology.

"...this letter nominating Dr. Blasey Ford is not about partisan politics: it is about recognizing that the simple act of speaking one's truth, especially when that truth involves sexual assault, is an act of bravery," the nomination letter read.

More about the nomination

Ford was nominated by UNC professor Dr. Jennifer Ho. In the nomination letter, Ho cited the fact that Ford's testimony against Kavanaugh inspired many women to come forward with their own experiences with sexual assault.

"Dr. Blasey Ford giving her testimony, speaking truth to power, was an inspiration for so many of us," Ho wrote. "Her testimony prompted countless women to share their own stories of sexual harassment and assault."

Ho believes Ford's testimony makes her worthy of recognition as a standout graduate of the University of North Carolina.

"Her accomplishment is to be an alumna of integrity, who despite great personal cost to herself and her family told her story of her sexual assault and emboldened others to also find the courage to speak out against injustice," the letter read.

The letter did not specifically address the substance of the allegations, nor did it make any mention of Kavanaugh's confirmation.

About the award

The UNC Distinguished Alumna/Alumnus Award was established in 1971. According to the UNC Alumni Association website, the award "recognizes alumni for outstanding contributions to humankind."

Ford was nominated for the 2019 award, and the winner will be presented with the award on Oct. 12, 2019.