Ten finalists have been selected for the 2005 NCAA Woman of the Year Award. The honor recognizes senior student-athletes for their outstanding athletics, academic and community-service achievements.

The 10 finalists are Michelle Reeser, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa (gymnastics); Alisha Williams, Western State College of Colorado (cross country, track and field); Leah Geib, University of Delaware (field hockey); Melissa Lehman, Barry University (volleyball); Jennifer Skolaski, University of Iowa (swimming and diving); Richelle Simpson, University of Nebraska, Lincoln (gymnastics); Deirdre Dlugonski, Pennsylvania State University (swimming and diving); Janiva Willis, Winthrop University (softball); Lauryn McCalley, University of Tennessee, Knoxville (swimming and diving); and Lindsay Hagerman, Washington and Lee University (tennis).

The 10 finalists were chosen from 51student-athletes recognized as state winners in August. Recipients also represented Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. There were no nominations from the state of Arizona.

The finalists will attend the annual Woman of the Year awards dinner October 29 in Indianapolis, at which time the 2005 Woman of the Year will be announced.

Following are some of the accomplishments of the 10 finalists.

Richelle Simpson
University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Gymnastics

Academic achievements: International studies and French double major; graduated with distinction from Nebraska in May 2005. National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches scholastic academic all-American, 2002-05. Two-time first-team academic all-Big 12 Conference selection. University of Nebraska Female Student-Athlete of the Year, 2005. Recipient of Big 12 and NCAA postgraduate scholarships, 2005.

Athletics accomplishments: Team captain, 2004-05. Top-three finisher at NCAA championships in all-around and floor exercises (2002, 2003, 2005). Earned multiple all-America honors in all-around and floor exercises. Member of Big 12 team champion, (2003, 2005). Big 12 all-around champion, 2003. Member of the Canadian National Team, 2003.

Service and leadership: Student-Athlete Advisory Committee member. Team Spirit Hospital volunteer. Coordinated fund-raising for domestic violence. Volunteer speaker at area middle and elementary schools.

Excerpt from personal statement: "My student-athlete experience has shaped who I am and will define my future success. Sports have taught me a work ethic second to none and also how to be humble with success. Athletics has helped me mature as a confident, poised and determined young woman."

Deirdre Dlugonski
Pennsylvania State University
Swimming and diving

Academic achievements: Kinesiology major; graduated in May 2005 with the highest grade-point average in the department. Selected to ESPN the Magazine's academic all-District II Women's At-Large first team, 2005. Four-time College Swim Coaches Association of America academic all-American. Three-time academic all-Big Ten Conference. Member of dean's list every semester.

Athletics accomplishments: Team captain, 2002-2005. Earned multiple all-America honors for relay performances. Member of several Big Ten championship relay teams. Member of Big Ten champions (2002, 2005).

Service and leadership: Member of Women's Leadership Initiative, 2003-05. Involved with the Penn Pal program, writing letters to classrooms of elementary school students. Volunteered at Special Olympics. Taught stroke techniques to children at Penn State swimming sports camps.

Excerpt from personal statement: "As a student-athlete, I have learned that some of the best experiences in life also are the most challenging. I learned that working hard to achieve goals means making sacrifices. During my career at Penn State, I gained many things, the most important of which is the opportunity to know what it feels like to be part of something bigger than myself."

Janiva Willis
Winthrop University
Softball

Academic achievements: Physical education athletic training major; graduated in May 2005. Four-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association all-American scholar-athlete. Four-time Big South Conference presidential scholar. Big South Scholar Athlete of the Year, 2005. Big South all-academic team, 2005. Member of the president's list and dean's list.

Athletics accomplishments: Team captain, 2004-05. Three-time all-Big South selection. Member of Canadian National Summer Team, 2002. Alternate on Canadian Olympic Team, 2004.

Service and leadership: Student-Athlete Advisory Committee member. Volunteer reader with elementary school children. Helped fund-raise for literacy programs. Worked with cerebral palsy students. Volunteered for Big Brother/Big Sister program.

Excerpt from personal statement: "By being a student-athlete, I found that I gained better time management skills and self-discipline. Being far away from home, the team became my family away from home. The lifelong relationships that I have developed with my coaches and teammates have filled the void of my family not being able to be there."

Lauryn McCalley
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Swimming and diving

Academic achievements: Microbiology major; expects to graduate in May 2006 and plans to become a compounding pharmacist. Recipient of NCAA postgraduate scholarship, 2004-05. NCAA Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship finalist, 2004-05. Southeastern Conference H. Boyd McWhorter Postgraduate Scholarship recipient, 2004-05. SEC scholar-athlete award, 2001-05. SEC honor roll, 2002-05. Glamour's Top Ten College Women, 2004.

Athletics accomplishments: Team co-captain, 2001-05. Earned all-America honors, 2001-04. Earned first-team all-SEC honors, 2001-04. Named SEC Freshman Diver of the Year, 2001-02. University of Tennessee Swimmer/Diver of the Year, 2002-03. Tennessee No Guts No Glory Award, 2003-04. Member of the United States National Team, 1995-2004.

Service and leadership: Student-Athlete Advisory Committee president, 2004-05. Served on University of Tennessee Athletics Board, 2004-05. Worked with Mentoring Program at Colquitt Regional Hospital. President of Homeless Holiday Dinners and Baskets. Member of Read Aloud Program for children. Faith Promise Church Involvement and Service Chairman, 2001-05.

Excerpt from personal statement: "My goals have not changed since I was young, but they have deepened. Because of being a student-athlete, these dreams have now transformed into reality. These life lessons learned from being a student-athlete will travel with me and help me reach my goals as I go to the University of Georgia to be a compounding pharmacist."

Lindsay Hagerman
Washington and Lee University
Tennis

Academic achievements: American history major; graduated in June 2005. NCAA postgraduate scholarship recipient, 2004-05. Received 2005 Marjorie Berkley Award, given to the outstanding female student-athlete in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Virginia Sports Information Directors academic all-state team, 2004. Two-time ODAC Women's Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Athletics accomplishments: Team co-captain, 2004-05. NCAA Division III singles champion, 2005. Earned NCAA all-American honors in singles (2002-04) and doubles (2003-04). Intercollegiate Tennis Association Senior of the Year, 2005. ODAC Player of the Year, 2004-05). Voted team MVP, 2002, 2004, 2005. ITA National Co-Rookie of the Year, 2002. Washington and Lee Freshman Female Athlete of the Year, co-recipient, 2002.

Service and leadership: Student-Athlete Advisory Committee member. Represented Washington and Lee at NCAA Division III Regional Leadership Conference, 2004. Served as a teacher's assistant and tutor. Helped raise funds for cystic fibrosis. Tutored at elementary, middle and high schools.

Excerpt from personal statement: "Athletics has taught me how to excel under pressure. Playing for a team in an otherwise individual sport enhanced my mental toughness, and this matured sense of confidence and determination has benefited me in other aspects of my life, academically and personally. Athletics taught me how to take risks and turn failures into success."

Michelle Reeser
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
Gymnastics

Academic achievements: Accounting major; graduated in May 2005. Southeastern Conference Gymnastics Scholar-Athlete of the Year, 2005. Four-time academic all-SEC. Member of National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Three-time Scholastic all-American. College of Commerce and Business Administration scholar-athlete award, 2004. Intern with Deutsche Bank in London; Jamison, Money, Farmer & Co., PC; and Ernst & Young.

Athletics accomplishments: Member of 2002 NCAA national championship team. Member of the 2003 SEC championship team. Four-time letter-winner in the all-around. Second-/third-team all-American.

Service and leadership: Visited patients on Valentine's Day at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Four-year participant in and 2004 organizer of bake sale for Project Angel Tree. Talked with elementary-school children about goal-setting. Served as receptionist and greeter and assisted with craft activities at the Children's Hands On Museum.

Excerpt from personal statement: "I have learned so much from my time at the University of Alabama, both in and out of the classroom, lessons I know will propel me to success in my postcollegiate life. I have learned the necessity of discipline, the bedrock that has supported my success in both the classroom and gym. And I've come to know that only through perseverance can you reach your full potential."

Alisha Williams
Western State College of Colorado
Cross country/track and field

Academic achievements: A May 2005 summa cum laude graduate; majored in accounting and business administration. Four-time academic all-American. Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year, 2004 and 2005.

Athletics accomplishments: Member of the 2001 and 2002 national championship cross country teams. Registered top-three finishes at the NCAA indoor track and field championships in the mile (2002, 2003, 2004) and 5000 meters (2003). Finished in the top three in the 1500- and 3000-meter races at the NCAA outdoor championships, 2002, 2004-05 and 2001-02, 2005, respectively. First-team all-RMAC selection in indoor track.

Service and leadership: Helped low-income citizens and the elderly prepare tax returns. Served as peer tutor for students in accounting and math. Tutored third-graders in reading as part of America Reads program. Elected to serve as a voting member of the Student Government Association (SGA), 2001-02. Served as vice-president of internal affairs for the SGA, 2003-04.

Excerpt from personal statement: "Deciding to compete as a collegiate athlete was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Setting high goals and being given the opportunity to achieve them has been one of the greatest benefits of being a student-athlete. My coaches, teammates and professors have always encouraged me to set high goals from myself; for that I am grateful."

Leah Geib
University of Delaware
Field hockey

Academic achievements: A May 2005 graduate; majored in communications with a concentration in mass communication and a minor in leadership. NCAA postgraduate scholarship recipient, 2005. Two-time Colonial Athletic Association Scholar-Athlete of the Year in field hockey.

Athletics accomplishments: Team captain, 2004. Member of the 2004 conference championship team. Four-year letter-winner. Second-/third-team all-American, 2004.

Service and leadership: Golden Key International Honor Society alumni representative/director (2005) and vice-president (2003-05). Female student representative on university's athletics governing board. Volunteered as peer mentor for Delaware student-athletes with Blue H.E.N.S. Mentor. Served as Student-Athlete Advisory Council Sportsmanship Committee chair. Worked as a counselor for Holy Angels After School Care Program. Served as coach and counselor with U.S. Field Hockey Association Futures Program.

Excerpt from personal statement: "During my four years of undergraduate studies, I have devoted my time to juggling various jobs and extracurricular activities such as intercollegiate athletics, community service and campus-based organizations. It's been a rewarding challenge to be involved in so many endeavors and still remain in the top 2 percent of my class. My success in the classroom is due to the strong foundation that athletics laid for me. Being a student-athlete refind my leadership skills, strengthened my habits of disciplined work and broadened my personal character."

Melissa Lehman
Barry University
Volleyball

Academic achievements: A communications studies major and public relations and sport management minor; graduated in May. Nominated for Communication Studies student of the year, 2005.

Athletics accomplishments: Team captain, 2003-04. Member of NCAA Division II national championship teams in 2001 and 2004. All-Sunshine State Conference second-/third-team selection at setter and defensive specialist, 2001.

Service and leadership: President of the National Communication Association Honor Society. Served as a mentor to area youth in volleyball fundamentals and the college student-athlete experience. One of seven Barry students selected to present aspects of college life to high-school guidance counselors as part of the Sunshine State Tour Student Panel. Served as secretary-treasurer (2004-05), team representative (2001-04), and chair of the public relations committee (2003-04) for campus SAAC.

Excerpt from personal statement: "My athletics career has taught me to maintain poise in pressure situations, to work with diverse personalities and cultures while working toward a goal, and to prepare to be the best. I also learned the value of laughter. Though competition is never easy, laughter became my antidote. It brought joy to my daily life, reduced team stress and brought a balance to my life that helped me make the most of every day."

Jennifer Skolaski
University of Iowa
Swimming and diving

Academic achievements: A May 2005 graduate; majored in social work. NCAA postgraduate scholarship recipient, 2005. Named Big Ten Conference scholar-athlete, 2003-04. Two-time academic all-Big Ten, 2002-03, 2003-04.

Athletics accomplishments: Team co-captain, 2003-04, 2004-05. Two-time all-American. Became the first female swimmer at Iowa to qualify for NCAA national meet all four years. Three-time second-/third-team all-Big Ten selection in the 200-yard breaststroke. Competed at the 2000 and 2004 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials.

Service and leadership: Chair of the campus SAAC, 2004-05. Served as a volunteer with Hawkeye Pride, a program that tutors fourth- and fifth-graders and encourages leadership skills. Honored by the University of Iowa Health Center for volunteering more than 100 hours. Ronald McDonald House volunteer.

Excerpt from personal statement: "My goal had always been to be a top athlete, and I was closest to achieving this my sophomore year when I finaled at nationals. I dreamed of repeating this, but I was faced with coaching turnovers and personal injuries. By my senior year, I felt I had overcome these obstacles and was physically and mentally ready to accomplish this ultimate goal. I had the opportunity to work with distinguished coaches, teammates and other athletes who pushed and motivated me to always work harder and strive for more. Most importantly, this experience showed me that I could be a leader and a role model in my everyday actions."