Kristy Kowal, a senior swimmer from the University of Georgia and a silver medalist in the Sydney Olympic Games, was named the 2000 NCAA Woman of the Year at the 10th annual NCAA Woman of the Year awards dinner October 15 in Indianapolis.

Kowal, who was chosen from among 10 finalists selected from more than 300 nominations, was recognized for her commitment to academics, athletics and community service.

"I did not expect this at all," said Kowal, who was noticeably surprised by her selection. "Swimming in front of 18,000 people in a Speedo is much easier than speaking in front of all of you.

"I'd like to thank the NCAA for this incredible honor, and I'd also like to thank the NCAA for its championships. There's nothing like striving to win an NCAA championship with your closest friends, your teammates."

Kowal accepted the honor on behalf of her former teammate, Lisa Ann Coole, who was the NCAA Woman of the Year in 1997. Coole died in a car accident in 1998. Coole's parents, Bill and Nancy Coole, represented their daughter at the dinner.

"Lisa was the captain my freshman year -- the hardest year," Kowal said. "She taught me the meaning of hard work and dedication. What I learned from her is what I like to pass on when I talk to kids.

"Lisa was one of those leaders who led by example. You would strive to be like her. She was just always there for us. She was a strong person with a good heart. She was killed (in a car accident) on her way to adopt a greyhound. Now, what does that tell you about her?"

Robin Roberts, ESPN and ABC sports commentator and anchor, shared the evening's master of ceremonies duties with Giselle Fernandez, a broadcast journalist who has been a regular contributor to CBS and NBC networks over the past decade.

Roberts, who hosts ABC's Wide World of Sports and serves as ESPN's play-by-play commentator for WNBA telecasts as well as frequently hosting ESPN's Sports Center, has emceed the NCAA Woman of the Year dinner since its inception in 1991.

In an evening themed, "A Decade of Excellence, a Future of Success," the NCAA also honored and cele brated the achievements of all 51 state nominees for Woman of the Year, giving special recognition to the 10 finalists.

Forty-four of the state nominees were present, as were nine of the last 10 Woman of the Year honorees. Cheryl L. Levick, athletics director at Santa Clara University and chair of the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics, paid special tribute to the previous winners, since this was the 10th anniversary of the award.

A 30-minute ESPN broadcast on December 6 at 2 p.m. Eastern time will feature highlights from the awards dinner.

A winner in life

While Kristy Kowal might be best remembered as an Olympic medal winner in Sydney, her athletics success is only part of what makes her a role model for young people.

Kowal's community service -- which has included volunteering with the Safe Kids project, serving food at homeless shelters, collecting food and clothing for needy families and speaking to elementary children about the importance of academics -- was so impressive that the Atlanta Boy Scouts recognized her with the "Peach of an Athlete" award for her service.

Kowal, who majored in early childhood education, would like to become an elementary teacher. She spent time her senior year of high school assisting her former fifth-grade teacher, and that experience inspired her to pursue elementary education.

"I love working with kids," she said. "My mom was a teacher, and I've always thought that being a teacher was a great way to make a difference in kids' lives."

Kowal also spends a great deal of time addressing children in her community-service work.

"I tell them to work hard, have fun and smile a lot," she said. "Work to your highest potential and never give up. Good things come to those who wait."

Kowal has been a Georgia Presidential Scholar and was named to the dean's list numerous times. Last year, she was selected as a Ramsey Scholar, an award bestowed on the top-10 student-athletes at Georgia. Kowal is a GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-American second-team selection and a three-time College Swimming Coaches Association of America academic choice.

"Athletics inspires competitiveness, and I believe that competitiveness carries over into the classroom," Kowal said.

Kowal's athletics excellence includes a silver-medal winning performance in the 200-meter breaststroke in the Sydney Games, where she represented the United States. The winner of eight individual NCAA championships in swimming, Kowal holds one world record and eight American records and is a multiple-event all-American.

Kowal led Georgia to NCAA Division I team championships in 1999 and 2000, and her individual accomplishments include 24 all-American performances. She was chosen as NCAA Swimmer of the Year for 1999 by the CSCAA, and the group picked her again as co-swimmer of the year in 2000, a year in which she also was picked as one of the United States Olympic Committee national female athletes of the month for all amateur sports.

A 13-time Southeastern Conference champion, Kowal became the first woman in conference history to take the conference title in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes four years in a row. Kowal's international success includes a world champion title in the 100 breaststroke, a performance in which she set an American record.

Jack Bauerla, the Georgia swim coach, was pleased to see Kowal honored.

"She deserves what she gets because she works hard for it," he said. "We're very proud for the University of Georgia to have had student-athletes like Kristy and Lisa (Ann Coole)."

Bauerla also noted that Kowal has overcome disappointments (missing qualifying for the 1996 Olympic Games by seven-hundredths of a second and missing qualifying for the 200 breaststroke this year by only .01.)

"With each disappointment, she only came back stronger. We're very proud of her."

And Kowal feels like her persistence has been rewarded.

"In my mind, I've had the perfect year. Three individual championships, the team repeating its national championship, winning an Olympic medal and now winning this award. It's been a dream year."

Only one thing would make it even better -- the presence of Lisa Ann Coole, who had her life ended before she could reach her goal of becoming a veterinarian.

"I would give all of my awards," Kowal said, "just to have her back."