Ten finalists have been chosen for the 2003 NCAA Woman of the Year, which recognizes young women for outstanding achievement in athletics, academics and community service.

The 10 finalists are: Elia Burrill, U.S. Air Force Academy -- fencing; Susan Churchwell, University of California, Davis -- softball; Victoria Courmes, Barry University -- tennis; Joanna Hingle, Duke University -- rowing; Melissa D. Jones, Monmouth University (Illinois) -- basketball, volleyball, and indoor and outdoor track and field; Tiffany Kyser, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis -- basketball; Kara Lawson, University of Tennessee, Knoxville -- basketball; Erika Paige Proko, Washington and Lee University -- tennis; Ashley Jo Rowatt, Kenyon College -- swimming and diving; and Kristin B. Sterner, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa -- gymnastics.

The NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced November 1 in Indianapolis.

Following are some of the accomplishments of the 10 finalists.

Alabama

Kristin B. Sterner

Gymnastics University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

Academic achievement: Biology major who is expected to graduate in December 2003. Scholastic all-American, 2000-03. Named as Alabama Women's Scholar-Athlete of the Year, 2002-03. Southeastern Conference Boyd McWhorter Scholarship, 2003. Phi Eta Sigma, Alpha Lambda Delta, and Beta, Beta, Beta honorary societies. Academic all-SEC, 2001-02; National Society of Collegiate Scholars, 2000-03. Awarded 2003 NCAA postgraduate scholarship.

Athletics achievement: NCAA team champion, 2002; conference team champion, 2000 and 2003. Regional champion in the vault, balance beam and all-around competition. All-American in the floor exercise, uneven parallel bars, balance beam, vault and all-around competition. All-conference on the balance beam, 2000-01.

Service and leadership: Hosted community Halloween party for children, 2000-03. Student-Athlete Advisory Board, 2000-03. Volunteer at Bama Rama gymnastics event entertaining more than 500 youth gymnasts. Team captain, 2001-03.

Excerpt from personal statement: "The combination of opportunities in academics, athletics and community service has advanced me toward reaching my goals of attending medical school, becoming a top physician and being a leader in the community."

Hometown: Ionia, Michigan.

California

Susan Churchwell
Softball
University of California, Davis

Academic achievements: Economics major who graduated in June 2003. Selected as a Verizon Academic All-American. Nominee for conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year, 2003. Received economics department citation for excellence, 2003. Received W.P. Lindley Award, 2002, which is considered the most competitive and prestigious award for a student-athlete at UC Davis. Member of the Golden Key Honor Society, Phi Beta Kappa.

Athletics achievements: Holds five school records. Most outstanding player, member of the 2003 NCAA championship all-tournament team. NCAA champions, 2003. Two-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association all-American. Led Division II in earned-run average (0.21) in 2001.

Service and leadership: Participated in the annual student-athlete drive to collect food, gifts, clothes and supplies for the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Left. Selected to assist a professor as a peer tutor for intermediate macroeconomics. Volunteered for the Northern California Special Olympics and at St. Martin's Episcopal Church. Student-Athlete Advisory Committee member.

Excerpt from personal statement: "...yet the life lessons I've learned from my experiences in the classroom, in the community and on the field at UC Davis have shaped me for the rest of my life. The games in college are over -- and I am ready to step up to the plate to face my next challenge."

Hometown: Lake Forest, California.

Colorado

Fencing
U.S. Air Force Academy

Academic achievement: Business management major who graduated in May 2003. Received the overall order of merit for cadet performance and the outstanding summer research award. Honored with the Mountain West Scholar-Athlete Award for 2001-03. Received an NCAA postgraduate scholarship and was nominated as the Mountain West Student-Athlete of the Year. Chosen as a 2003 Verizon Academic All-District VII selection.

Athletics achievement: Member of the U.S. Fencing Team at the World Cups in 2002. Three-time most valuable fencer. Three-time Western regional champion on women's epee. Four-time NCAA championships qualifier. Academic all-American and three-time team MVP. Team participated in four consecutive NCAA and conference championships, 2000 to 2003.

Service and leadership: Volunteer for Baby Track, which teaches English to mothers. Participated in a summer internship at the Pentagon. Team captain, 2001-03. Squadron Academic Non-Commission Officer, Squadron Flight Non-Commissioned Officer, and Squadron Element Leader.

Excerpt from personal statement: "The responsibility to both my team and my subordinate cadets taught me the essence of servant leadership and necessity for personal excellence."

Hometown: Truckee, California.

Florida

Barry University

Academic achievements: Political science major who graduated in May 2003. Selected as the University Scholar-Athlete of the Year, 2002, 2003. Four-time recipient of Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Scholar all-American; four-time Sunshine State Conference. Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Member of the Alpha Chi and Pi Gamma Mu honor societies.

Athletics achievements: Singles: First-team ITA all-American, 2000-03. First-team all-conference, 2000-03. Doubles: First-team ITA all-American, 2001-02. National team runner-up, 2003; third-place finishes in 2001, 2002. Finished career with most No. 1 singles wins in school history (60).

Service and leadership: Served on Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Mentored a child with a disability; served food to the homeless. Three-year peer tutor, selected among student-athletes with a 3.500 grade-point average or higher. Senator for student government, 2002-03. Team captain, 2002-03.

Excerpt from personal statement: "The culturally diverse team (Latin America, Europe, Africa and U.S.) encouraged me to sharpen my diplomatic skills in order to effectively communicate with and inspire teammates from different cultures, helping them achieve their highest potential through both victory and defeat."

Hometown: Bastia, France.

Illinois

Monmouth College (Illinois)

Academic achievements: Physical education major who graduated cum laude in May 2003. Academic all-conference in volleyball, basketball, and indoor and outdoor track. Second-team basketball Verizon Academic All-District V in 2003. Member of the Blue Key and Kappa Delta Pi educational honor societies.

Athletics achievements: Volleyball: School record holder in games played (495), kill attempts in a season (1,412), and season kill attempts per game (11.12). All-conference selection, 2000 and 2003. Basketball: Owns seven school records. Member of the all-conference first-team. Track and field: Four-time all-American for high jump. All-conference member in both indoor and outdoor track and field. Owns school and conference high-jump record.Team won conference indoor championship, 2000, 2002 and 2003; outdoor conference champions, 2000-03.

Service and leadership: Served on Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. VIVA Quad Cities volunteer, 2001-03. Mentor for students with special needs, 2002-03. Volleyball team captain, 2002; basketball captain, 2001-03.

Excerpt from personal statement: "Athletics teaches us if we attack our challenges by setting goals and meeting them through discipline, organization and hard work, we can be successful in sports and life. Special athletics moments make you realize all the hard work is worth it."

Hometown: Port Byron, Illinois.

Indiana

Basketball

Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis

Academic achievements: English education major who graduated in May 2003. Earned university's outstanding female student leader award, 2001-03. Verizon Academic All-American, 2003; All-District, 2001-02. Creamland Dairies National College Basketball Student-Athlete of the Year, 2003. IU School of Education of Indianapolis Outstanding Student Award. Recipient of the Indianapolis YWCA Salute to Women of Achievement Award, 2003.

Athletics achievements: First-team all-conference, 2001-03. Conference defensive player of the year and player of the year, 2003. Owns school records for rebounds (874), free throws made (486), free throws made in a season (144) and games played (113). One of three players in the conference to score 1,500 career points and grab 800 career rebounds.

Service and leadership: Served on Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, 1999-2001. Traveled on mission trip with other conference women's basketball players to Mexico, 2002. Member of the Black Student Union, Campus Crusade for Christ, and English Club. Motivational speaker to elementary schools in central Indiana. Participated in National Institute for Fitness and Sport's ECO-Clean Team, 1999-2003.

Excerpt from personal statement: "During my four years at IUPUI, I went through an incredible amount of difficulties with adjusting to the campus, making new friends, learning about myself, dealing with classes. But l learned as a child and am still learning that we are made through how we react to adverse situations."

Hometown: Indianapolis.

North Carolina

Joanna Hingle

Rowing

Duke University

Academic achievement: Civil engineering major who graduated in May 2003. Received the Architectural Engineering Certificate and Aubrey Palmer Award for Excellence in Civil Engineering, 2003. National Rowing Scholar-Athlete, 2001-03, and Verizon Academic All-District, 2002. Awarded conference Weaver-James-Corrigan postgraduate scholarship.

Athletics achievement: All-conference member, 2001-03; all-region member, 2001-03; all-American, 2001. Team finished second at the 2003 Atlantic Coast Conference championships.

Service and leadership: Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Board member and program chair for Society of Women Engineers, 1999-03. First-year advisory counselor and Special Olympics volunteer. Teaching assistant for architectural engineering, 2002-03. Team captain, 2001-03.

Excerpt from personal statement: "My commitment to excellence in engineering and rowing have made time my most valuable resource, and I've enjoyed using the free time I've made to participate in freshman buddy programs, take advantage of campus productions and spend time with the amazing people I have met."

Hometown: Alexandria, Virginia.

Ohio

Kenyon College

Academic achievement: Molecular biology major who graduated summa cum laude and distinction in May 2003. Two-time Verizon Academic All-American (2002, 2003) and 2003 Verizon Academic All-American of the Year. Recipient of the Robert Bowen Brown Jr. Prize, given for best original research in biology, and the 2003 Jess Falkenstine Award, given to the outstanding scholar-athlete who exemplifies leadership and integrity.

Athletics achievement: Two-time NCAA champion in the 400-yard individual medley and 800-yard freestyle relay, and one-time champion in the 200-yard individual medley. Thirteen-time all-American and nine-time all-North Coast Athletic Conference selection. Four-time conference champion as an individual and member of four-time conference championship team. Three-time NCAA team champions.

Service and leadership: Member of the American Chemical Society for Students, Kenyon Bible Studies and the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, 1999-03. Served on the Student Athletic Committee, 2002-03, and tutored trouble youth. Flute section leader in symphonic band and team co-captain, 2002-03.

Excerpt from personal statement: "While academic pursuits are my top priority, I not only found a balance among athletics, academics, service and leadership, but also thrived in these endeavors. I look forward to bringing the enthusiasm that I contributed to the Kenyon community to Vanderbilt Medical School next year."

Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky.

Tennessee

Basketball

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Academic achievement: Finance major who graduated magna cum laude in May 2003. Verizon Academic All-American, 2002-03; three-time academic all-conference. Named Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars Female Student-Athlete of the Year, 2002-03, and received National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Director's Cup Division I Award. Awarded Tennessee's Torchbearer Award, which is the school's highest student honor, 2002-03.

Athletics achievement: School record holder in career three-point field goals (256), three-point field goals attempted (617), and free-throw percentage (84.7). Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award honoree, 2002-03. Two-time Tennessee basketball athlete of the year. Member of the 2003 Women's Final Four all-tournament team.

Service and leadership: Served on Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, 2000-03; president, 2002-03. Member of university's athletics board, 2001-03. Member of the Southeastern Conference Good Works Team, Fellowship of Christian Athletes Leadership Team and organizer of Kara Lawson's Give Back Clinics. Team captain, 2001-02.

Excerpt from personal statement: "So many of the values that I hold as pivotal for success in life have been born from or strengthened by my collegiate experience. My collegiate career, both athletically and academically, allowed me to appreciate the importance of diversity in my life. I would like to be someone who can enlighten, encourage, inspire and lead others."

Hometown: Alexandria, Virginia.

Virginia

Erika Paige Proko

Tennis

Washington and Lee University

Academic achievement: Neuroscience major who graduated in June 2003. Verizon Academic All-District, 2001-02. School's freshman female athlete of the year and senior female athlete of the year. Recipient of Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) woman scholar athlete award, 2003.

Athletics achievement: Six-time all-American, which is a school record. All-time leader in doubles wins (104). Third in school history in singles wins (92).

Service and leadership: Chair of ODAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), 2001-03; NCAA Division III SAAC, 2001-03. Volunteered at Rockbridge free clinic and Lifestyle Information for Everyone.

Excerpt from personal statement: "As I enter medical school to work toward my goal of being a physician who makes a difference, my involvement in collegiate athletics has prepared me well to meet the challenges ahead."

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina.